The klipspringer is the only antelope that lives on kopjes and cliffs. Short body, massive hindquarters, and sturdy long legs. Stands on tips of truncated hotyves. Male wt 23 lb (10.6 kg), ht 20 21 in (49 52.5 cm); Female wt 29 lb (13.2 kg), ht same as male. Head wedge shaped on short neck, with big rounded ears. Horns wide set, upstanding spikes, 4 in (10 cm). Occasionally present in females of East African race. Coat rough, hairs air filled, brittle, and loose (good insulation and padding). Color: nondescript, grizzled, yellow brown or brown; ears with black border, white inside with radiating lark lines. Scent glands huge preorbital glands opening in bull's eye of naked black skin.
It is found in Eastern Africa, from Red Sea hills to tip of South Africa, north to southern Angola; sea level up to 15,000 ft (4500 m), in climates ranging from arid and hot to wet and cold. More widespread in distant past, relict populations persist on isolated mountains in Kenya and the Central African Republic.
The best places to see it is in Tsavo, Aberdares, and Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya; Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Serengeti NP, Tanzania; Luangwa National Park (Muchinga Escarpment), Zambia; Nyika, Kasungu, and Lake Malawi NP, Malawi; Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe; Augrabies and Kruger National Park, South Africa; Namib Naukluft National Park Namibia.
The antelope depends on steep, rocky terrain as a refuge against predators and on adequate nearby food resources. Home may be a kopje on the open plain or an inselberg in the middle of woodland. A hillside scree of loose rock, a cinder cone, even a level expanse of jagged lava rock are all places where the klipspringer's superior jumping ability and surefootedness enable it to escape terrestrial predators.
A water independent browser of leaves, shoots, berries, fruits, seed pods, ancl flowers of evergreen shrubs and bushes, succulents (aloes, sanseveria, euphorbias), and herbs, plus a little new green grass.
A water independent browser of leaves, shoots, berries, fruits, seed pods, ancl flowers of evergreen shrubs and bushes, succulents (aloes, sanseveria, euphorbias), and herbs, plus a little new green grass.
Bounds up and down steep slopes and jumps from rock to rock, landing with all 4 feet together on the flat tips of its hooves; walks in a stilted manner and runs in jerky bounds even on level ground.
Females spent 31% of the day foraging in the wet season, 24% in the dry season (Ethiopian study). Males stood lookout much of the time their mates were eating and resting, foraging only 18% and 9.5% of the day in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Night activity remains unstudied.
Unusually close proximity average 4 to 15 yd and the male's watchdog role distinguish klipspringer families. Both habits are adapted to open habitat where young and adults are exposed to eagles and ground predators. The female usually initiates and leads movements, followed by the male. By playing a watchdog role while his mate devotes the extra feeding time needed to bear and suckle young, the male protects his genetic investment against both predators and rival males. Where predation pressure is severe, pairs take turns feeding and standing guard.
Klipspringers may typically spend their adult lifetimes within the same home range/territory, which can be as small as 20 acres (8 ha) in lush climates, increasing to 37 acres (15 ha) in arid regions, up to 121 acres (49 ha) in sub desert One adult male stayed 9 years on the same kopje. Families venture outside their territories only when drawn to new growth or a salt lick as many as 9 adults have been known to gather on a greenflush. If fires burn off their cover and food, klipspringers will evacuate their territories and take up temporary residence in places they normally avoid.
Klipspringers may typically spend their adult lifetimes within the same home range/territory, which can be as small as 20 acres (8 ha) in lush climates, increasing to 37 acres (15 ha) in arid regions, up to 121 acres (49 ha) in sub desert One adult male stayed 9 years on the same kopje. Families venture outside their territories only when drawn to new growth or a salt lick as many as 9 adults have been known to gather on a greenflush. If fires burn off their cover and food, klipspringers will evacuate their territories and take up temporary residence in places they normally avoid.
Offspring usually disperse as yearlings, sons sooner than daughters, though without obvious parental prompting. Occasional extra females are probably daughters, which sometimes breed incestuously.
Although both sexes deposit dung in middens, a dunring ceremony remains to be described. Preorbital gland marking seems more important pair activity. Synchronized and protracted alarm calling may be equally or more important, possibly comparable to the duetting of pair bonded birds.
Reproduction varies from seasonal in harsh climates to year round in more equable conditions, with a rainy season peak. Gestation: estimate at 5 (probable) to 7.5 months (long). Both sexes reach adult weight at 1 year.
After hiding for up to 3 months, calves stay close to mother, nursing twice a day for 7 to 8 minutes, during which father remains on highest alert. Weaning is complete at 4 to 5 months.
Predators include Leopard, jackals, and spotted hyena; calves vulnerable to eagles and baboons. Because klipspringers must often leave their refuges to forage, they are very alert to predators and to alarm signals of other species, react by fleeing to higher ground with or without first calling, the female leading. Once safe, they give whistling alarm calls in duet.
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