Species: Antilocapra americana

Pronghorn

Species

Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Upperparts are reddish brown to tan; underparts, lower sides, rump, and two bands on the neck are white; neck has a short black mane; male has a black band along each side of the snout, a black patch on each cheek, and sometimes black bands on the neck; males and most females have horns (larger and usually forked in males; sheaths are shed annually); two toes on each hoofed foot; head and body length 100-150 cm, tail 8-18 cm, mass 36-70 kg (Nowak 1991).

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Craniata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Antilocapridae

Genus

Antilocapra

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100336

Classification

Other Global Common Names

Berrendo - antilope d'Amérique

Informal Taxonomy

Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Other Mammals

Formal Taxonomy

Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Artiodactyla - Antilocapridae - Antilocapra - Thought to belong to the family Bovidae by some authors, but retained in the Antilocapridae by recent authors (e.g., Janis and Scott 1987; Jones et al. 1992; Grubb, in Wilson and Reeder 1993, 2005). See Kraus and Miyamoto (1991) for a phylogenetic analysis of pecoran ruminants (Cervidae, Bovidae, Moschidae, Antilocapridae, and Giraffidae) based on mitochondrial DNA data; relationship of Antilocapridae and Bovidae remains unresolved.

Ecology and Life History

Migration

false - true - false - Seasonal movements occur in some populations. Sometimes moves as much as 160 km from summering area (O'Gara 1978).

Non-migrant

false

Locally Migrant

true

Food Comments

In winter, northern populations depend heavily on browse, especially sagebrush. Forbs most important in summer. Southern populations use more forbs and less browse. Also eats grasses; in some areas, cactus (including burned OPUNTIA).

Reproduction Comments

Breeds mid-September to early October in north, late July to early October in south. Gestation lasts 240-250 days in north, shorter in south (e.g., 210-225 days in Texas). Births occur earlier in south than in north; April-May in Texas, mainly first half of June in Colorado (Fairbanks, 1993, J. Mamm. 74:129-135). Females give birth usually to twins (single fawns mainly from young females). Young are weaned by four months, but continue to follow mother during first winter. Some begin breeding at 1 year.

Ecology Comments

Usually in small bands. Large winter herds disperse in spring. Forms separate bachelor and female-kid groups in spring and summer. Males associate with females in late summer and early fall. High mortality in young is common (mostly predation).

Length

145

Weight

63000

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

Global Status Last Reviewed

1996-11-19

Global Status Last Changed

1996-11-19

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

FG - 20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles) - FG - Western North America, from southern Prairie Provinces of Canada (southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan) south through the western U.S. to northern Mexico (Baja California, Sonora, Hidalgo). Introduced on Lanai (Hawaii) in 1959; reached population of about 250 in the mid-1960s; less than 12 in 1983 and headed for extinction (Tomich 1986).

Global Range Code

Global Range Description

20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100336