Springbok - national mammal of South Africa

Afrikaans name: Springbok (dier)

Springbok pronking

Photo © JohanSwanepoel - Fotolia.com

Antidorcas marsupialis

Interesting facts about Springbok

The Springbok is an amazing medium-sized antelope and is South Africa's national mammal. They are able to run at speeds of up to 100 km/h and can take leaps 4 metres in length.

Male Springboks pronk when trying to attract a mate. This involves trotting along and jumping up into the air with an arched back and exposing the white hairs under its tail.

Springboks stand up to 90 cm at the shoulder and can weigh over 40 kg. Males are a bit bigger than females.

Springboks mainly occur in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. They are found in the drier regions of the western half of the South Africa.

They feed on grass or bushes - depending on what is available.

Male Springboks establish territories but they don't have a harem as such. Female Springboks tend to move around from territory to territory.

References and further reading

Wild Ways - 2nd Edition - Author: Peter Apps - Published: 2000 - Page: 153

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 236

Wild Issue 23 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 28

What Antelope is That? - Author: Paul Rose - Published: 1967 - Page: 14

The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa - Author: P. Briggs - Published: 2020 - Page: 333

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 113

The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 2011 - Page: 20

The Living Deserts of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Darry Lovegrove - Published: 2021 - Page: 189

The Living Deserts of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Darry Lovegrove - Published: 2021 - Page: 110

The Living Deserts of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Darry Lovegrove - Published: 2021 - Page: 85

The Living Deserts of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Darry Lovegrove - Published: 2021 - Page: 64

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 70

South African Animals in the Wild - Author: Anthony Bannister - Published: 1985 - Page: 39

Signs of the Wild - 5th Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1996 - Page: 168

Signs of the Wild - 3rd Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1986 - Page: 183

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 90

Questions and Answers - Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 9

Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 332

Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 1987 - Page: 105

Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Published: 1980 - Page: 116

Maberlys Mammals of Southern Africa - Revised edition - Author: Richard Goss - Published: 1986 - Page: 259

Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Published: 1986 - Page: 170

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 260

Guide to the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park - Author: Gus Mills and Clem Haagner - Published: 1996 - Page: 25

First Field Guide to Animal Tracks of Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2003 - Page: 50

Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2001 - Page: 212

Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1997 - Page: 180

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 165

Country Life - Issue 187 - Author: - Published: 2012 - Page: 28

Chris and Tilde Stuarts Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 1st Edit - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1988 - Page: 212

African Wildlife - Vol 40 No 3 - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 80

An Introduction to the Larger Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Joanna Dalton - Published: 1987 - Page: 227

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Published: 1999 - Page: 62

A Field Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife - 3rd - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2000 - Page: 90

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa including Madagascar - Author: Theodor Haltenorth and Helmut Diller - Published: 1980 - Page: 99

Wikipedia

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List of South African Mammals