Klipspringer

Behavior and diet

The klipspringer, is a small sturdy rock climbing antelope, native to the rocky mountainous regions of eastern and southern Africa. It has short spiky horns measuring about 7.5-9 cm that are only present in the male species. The yellowish-gray fur coating camouflages the klipspringer from its predators in the rocky habitat. Unlike the other antelope species, the klipspringer’s coating is thick and coarse with hollow brittle hairs that act as insulation during extreme weather conditions. It also acts as a cushion during steep falls on rocks. Another unique adaptation of the klipspringer is it walks on the tips of its blunt rounded hooves; this helps enhance its grip on the ground and climb on rocky surfaces. Notably, the inside edges of their hooves have a soft cartilage tissue that absorbs the landing shock from high jumps. The tissue also enables the klipspringer to turn quickly making it difficult for their predators to catch.

Active mainly at night and more excessively during moonlit nights, they rest during the day and late night. They are mainly browsers that forage from a wide variety of plants within their habitat. They can notably stand on their hind legs to reach for plants high up to a distance of 1.2 meters. The klipspringer is not highly dependent on water; it relies on the succulent plants to meet its water requirement.

Territorial in nature, the male species enforce these territories with heaps of dung nearly a meter wide and 10 cm deep or secretion of a thick black substance onto vegetation and rocks in their territories. Klipspringers communicate using shrill whistles given out as a duet and are sometimes used to signal others of potential predators. They are strictly monogamous exhibiting lifelong pair bonding with individuals of opposite sexes.

The gestation period of a female klipspringer is six months and they normally give birth to a single calf. Due to the inaccessibility of their rocky habitat, the Klipspringer does not face any threats of illegal hunting. However, populations existing in low altitude areas face the danger of being hunted for their meat, leather, and hair. Its main predators include the caracal, leopard, martial eagle, serval cat, and the spotted hyena.