THE ANTELOPE

CHARACTERISTICS
An antelope is a member of a number of even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a wastebasket taxon (miscellaneous group) within the family Bovidae, encompassing those Old World species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats. A group of antelope is called a herd.
 
SPECIES
The 91 species, most of which are native to Africa, occur in about 30 genera. The classification of tribes or subfamilies within Bovidae is still a matter of debate, with several alternative systems proposed.
Antelope are not a cladistic or taxonomically defined group. The term is used to describe all members of the family Bovidae that do not fall under the category of sheep, cattle, or goats. Usually, all species of the Alcelaphinae, Antilopinae, Hippotraginae, Reduncinae, Cephalophinae, many Bovinae, the grey rhebok, and the impala are called antelopes.

REPRODUCTION

Females are sexually mature at two to three years of age and males at about two years. Breeding occurs throughout the year, but it peaks during winter and early spring. In the northern Sahara, breeding peaks at the end of winter and beginning of spring; in the southern Sahara, breeding peaks from September to October and from January to mid-April. Each estrus bout lasts for one or two days.
In a study, the blood serum of female addax was analyzed through immunoassay to know about their luteal phase. Estrous cycle duration was of about 33 days. During pregnancy, ultrasonography showed the uterine horns as coiled. The maximum diameters of the ovarian follicle and the corpus luteum were 15 mm (0.59 in) and 27 mm (1.1 in). Each female underwent an anovulatory period lasting 39 to 131 days, during which there was no ovulation. Anovulation was rare in winter, which suggested the effect of seasons on the estrous cycle.
Gestation period lasts 257–270 days (about 9 months). Females may lie or stand during the delivery, during which one calf is born. A postpartum estrus occurs after two or three days. The calf weighs 5 kg (11 lb) at birth and is weaned at 23–29 weeks old.



habitat/adaptation
The sable antelope is easily recognizable by the massive horns atop his head, but those aren't his only distinct adaptations. In addition to physical adaptations noticeable from birth, he has adapted his behavior over time to ensure his survival. Despite the formidable predators and sometimes harsh weather conditions of his African habitat, he can survive longer than 17 years in the wild.


DIET
they eat grasses and leaves of what shrubs, leguminous herbs and bushes are available. Their staple foods are the Aristida, Artemisia, Citrullus and Acacia grasses;^[18] perennials which turn green and sprout at the slightest bit of humidity or rain. The antelope eat only certain parts of the plant and tend to crop the Aristida grasses neatly to the same height. By contrast, when feeding on Panicum grass, the drier outer leaves are left alone while they eat the tender, inner shoots and seeds. These seeds are important part of the addax diet, being their main source of protein.



PREDATOR
their major predators are mostly cat such as lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah. wolves, man and other carnivorous animal are also predators of the antelope