#873: Zebra Duiker

The Zebra Duiker is a small antelope. His natural habitat are the closed-canopy rainforests of West Africa, centered around Liberia. He is shy and reclusive, rarely seen except on camera traps. He is greatly affected by logging, and is Vulnerable to extinction. Although his diet consists predominantly of fruits, seeds and sometimes leaves, he has been observed eating rodents and frogs.

#835: Wildebeest

The Wildebeest are a Genus of large antelopes, sometimes known as gnu. They live in large herds, sometimes combining with zebra and other hoofed megafauna. The blue wildebeest undertakes a vast annual migration, migrating with the rains. Animals gather into large herds, moving together with the younger animals towards the centre. protecting them somewhat from the multitude of predators. Wildebeest are affected by agriculture, with fences disrupting their migration routes and competition with cattle proving detrimental to the non-migratory herds.

#718: Springbok

The South African Springbok is a medium-sized antelope, able to reach speeds of up to 88 km/hr. He is named for his ability to "stot" or "pronk": leaping vertically in the air, all four feet off the ground. This is a strategy to demonstrate to predators that he is fine, fit and not worth pursuing, and to show female Springbok that he is definitely worth pursuing. Springbok form herds. Their diet is mixed, with grazing common during the wet season but browsing on trees and shrubs in drier times.

Creature Feature #547: Oryx

The Oryx are four species of large antelope, found in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Of these four, two were critically endangered/extinct in the wild, another - the gemsbok, is common and found in South Africa, also in White Sands, USA where it was released by the Department of Game and Fishing.  Both male and female bear the characteristic horns - which are straight in all species except for the Scimitar-horned Oryx. These horns are permanent and lethal - they can kill lions with them. Preferred habitat is arid, near-desert conditions, and these antelope can survive for lengthy periods without water.

Creature Feature #541: Oribi

And today's animal is a small antelope that you've probably never heard of.

The Oribi is a small antelope widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa. He can be found in open grasslands and thinly wooded regions, generally near to water. Social groups are small, and often Oribi are solitary, but a male may interact with one or two females. His diet is mostly grass, but he will browse when required and visits mineral licks to supplement his diet. Beneath his eyes, two dark patches are his preorbital glands. These secrete an odour with which he can mark the boundaries of his territory. Only the males have horns.

Creature Feature #525: Nyala

The Nyala is a spiral-horned antelope of South Africa, where he lives in thickets and woodland. During the dry season, he browses, eating leaves, fruits, flowers and even twigs. When the rains come and make the grass lush, he grazes. Herds can be single gender or mixed, although adult males prefer to be alone.

Creature Feature #415: Lechwe

There are three species of Lechwe - and several subspecies -  all found in the Kobus genus and generally found near wetlands and marshes. This species is the Nile Lechwe. He inhabits floodplains in Ethiopia, Sudan and Southern Sudan. He feeds both on land and in the water, grazing on water plants such as wild rice. Whilst he generally wades through the water, he is also a capable swimmer. Considered a highly prized hunting trophy, the species is now classified as Endangered.