The springbok is an antelope that lives in southern Africa, mainly in the Kalahari basin.

Its name, which comes from Afrikaans and means “spring antelope”, was not given to it by chance: it can indeed make spectacular leaps when threatened and when it has to flee a predator.

Both sexes have horns, but those of the male are S-shaped while those of the females are straight and thin.

Thomson's gazelle, fan of "stotting"

With an average of 70 cm at the withers for a weight between 20 and 25 kg, the Thomson's gazelle is one of the smallest antelopes in Africa.

Like the springbok, it runs fast and can make impressive leaps called “stotting”.

It is found in grasslands of eastern Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

They are relatively drought tolerant, allowing them to stay in arid plains longer than most other ungulates that must move away to find wetter habitats.

Kirk's dik-dik, the dwarf antelope

The unusual name of this very shy little antelope comes from the “dik-dik” sound it emits to alert its congeners when a danger arises on their territory.

It is mainly found in East Africa, from southern Somalia to Malawi via Kenya.

There is also a separate population in the west, in Angola and Namibia.

Dik-diks remain in pairs throughout their lives and occupy the same territory which they mark with dung.

Only males have horns.

They can measure up to 11 cm and are separated by a tuft of hair.

Klipspringer, the family climber

Although very similar to the dik-dik, the klipspringer belongs to a different genus (

Oreotragus

) of which it is the only representative.

It is a small antelope that measures 60 cm at the withers and weighs between 10 and 15 kg, roughly the same proportions as a deer.

Its pointed hooves allow it to climb on the rocks of the mountainous areas of Africa.

The oryx gazelle, a badass 

The oryx gazelle is not strictly speaking an antelope since it belongs to the Hippotraginae subfamily and not to that of the Antilopinae.

Recognizable by its long straight horns which can measure up to 85 cm, and its black spots which seem to flow along the eyes, the oryx gazelle lives in the desert and the arid savannahs of Africa.

Although it prefers to flee from a predator, the oryx has the reputation of being able to kill a lion by dehorning it!

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