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Information about Pronghorn

Pronghorn
Enlarge picture
A Pronghorn near Fort Rock, Oregon

A Pronghorn near Fort Rock, Oregon
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Suborder:Ruminantia
Infraorder:Pecora
Family:Antilocapridae
Gray, 1866
Genus:Antilocapra
Species:A. americana
Binomial name
Antilocapra americana
Ord, 1815
Subspecies


A. a. americana
A. a. mexicana
A. a. peninsularis
A. a. sonoriensis
Synonyms
Prong buck[1]
The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae, and the fastest land mammal in North America running at speeds of 61 mph (about 98 km/h)[2] and the second-fastest land animal, second only to the cheetah[3]. The pronghorn is also known as the pronghorn antelope, but is not a true antelope. It is a unique animal with no close relatives. Both the males' and the females' horns are made up of a hairlike substance that grows around a bony core; the outer sheath is shed annually.

Pronghorns have a longer gestation period than is typical for North American ungulates. Bands of pronghorns live in open grasslands, gathering into larger herds in the winter. They breed in mid-September, and the doe carries her fawn until late May. This is around six weeks longer than the pronghorn's slightly larger distant relative, the whitetail deer. Unlike deer, however, pronghorns possess gallbladders.

Enlarge picture
Pronghorns in Montana, United States.
Enlarge picture
Pronghorns in Fort Rock, Oregon, United States.
Pronghorns were brought to scientific notice by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which found them in what is now South Dakota, USA. The pronghorn's range extends from southern Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada to Sonora and Baja California in Mexico. They live on both sides of the Rocky Mountains. The eastern limit of their range is generally the Missouri River in the United States. The subspecies known as the Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) occurs in Arizona and Mexico.

Pronghorns live primarily in grasslands but also in brushland and deserts. They eat cacti, grasses, forbs and browse plants.

Pronghorn newborns weigh 5 to 9 lb (2 to 4 kg). Adult male pronghorns weigh 100 to 145 lb (45 to 60 kg) while females weigh 75 to 100 lb (35 to 45 kg). The main color of adults is brown or tan, with a white rump and belly and two white stripes on the throat. A short dark mane grows along the neck, and males also sport a black mask and black patches on the sides of the neck.

Male pronghorns have horns about 5 to 10 in (125 to 430 mm) long with a prong. Females also grow horns, though these are relatively small, ranging from 1 to 6 in (25 to 150 mm), and sometimes barely visible; they are straight rather than pronged. Pronghorns have a distinct, musky odor. Males mark territory with a scent gland located on the sides of the head. Pronghorns are commonly called "prairie goats", "speed goats", or simply "goats" for this reason (as well as their resemblance to domesticated goats.)

The pronghorn is built for maximum predator evasion through running; its speed is surpassed only by that of the cheetah. It can sustain high speeds longer than cheetahs, however. The top recorded speed was 61 mph (98 km/h). The pronghorn has an oversized heart and lungs and their hair is hollow. Although built for speed, the pronghorn is a very poor jumper. Their ranges are often affected by sheep ranchers' fences. However, they can be seen going under fences. For this reason the Arizona Antelope Foundation and others are in the process of removing the bottom barbed wire from the fences, and/or installing a barbless bottom wire. The pronghorn also sports a very large set of eyes that are said to be the equivalent of 8X binoculars, and have a 320 degree field of vision.

By 1908, hunting pressure had reduced the pronghorn population to about 20,000. Protection of habitat and hunting restrictions have allowed them to recover to 500,000 pronghorns. Wolves, coyotes and bobcats are the major predators. Golden eagles have been reported to prey on fawns.

Pronghorns are now numerous enough that they exceed the human population in all of Wyoming and parts of northern Colorado. The pronghorn is widely hunted in western states for purposes of population control and food, as its meat is rich and lean.

Three subspecies are considered endangered in all (A. a. sonoriensis, A. a. peninsularis) or part of their ranges (A. a. mexicana)

References

1. ^ J. D. Caton, (Apr., 1876). "The American Antelope, or Prong Buck" The American Naturalist, Vol. 10, No. 4. pp. 193-205.
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ Klessius, Michael (2007), "Losing Ground", National Geographic 211(1): 22, ISSN 0027-9358
State of Oregon

Flag of Oregon (front) Seal
Nickname(s): Beaver State
Motto(s): Alis volat propriis

Official language(s) (none)[1]

Capital Salem
Largest city Portland

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conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species: not simply the number remaining, but the
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Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, nor Near Threatened, nor (prior to 2001) Conservation Dependent.
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Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. Scientific classification also can be called scientific taxonomy, but should be distinguished from folk taxonomy, which lacks scientific basis.
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Chordata
Bateson, 1885

Typical Classes

See below

Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates.
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Mammalia
Linnaeus, 1758

Subclasses & Infraclasses
  • Subclass †Allotheria*
  • Subclass Prototheria
  • Subclass Theria

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Artiodactyla*
Owen, 1848

Families

Antilocapridae
Bovidae
Camelidae
Cervidae
Giraffidae
Hippopotamidae
Moschidae
Suidae
Tayassuidae
Tragulidae
Leptochoeridae †
Dichobunidae †
Cebochoeridae †
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Ruminantia
Scopoli, 1777

Families

 Tragulidae
 Moschidae
 Cervidae
 Giraffidae
 Antilocapridae
 Bovidae
The biological suborder Ruminantia
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Pecora
Flower, 1883

Families

 Moschidae
 Cervidae
 Giraffidae
 Antilocapridae
 Bovidae

The Pecora is a group of hoofed mammals that comprises most of the ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes, deer,
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Antilocapridae
Owen, 1841

Genera

See text.
Antilocapridae is a family of artiodactyls endemic to North America. Only one species, the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), is living today; all other members of the family are extinct.
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John Edward Gray

Born January 12 1800(1800--)
Walsall, England
Died March 07 1875 (aged 75)

Nationality British
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binomial nomenclature is the formal system of naming species. The system is also called binominal nomenclature (particularly in zoological circles), binary nomenclature (particularly in botanical circles), or the binomial classification system.
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George Ord (1781 - January 24, 1866) was an American ornithologist.

Ord was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father (also named George) was a rope maker and Ord joined him in the business, continuing after his father's death in 1806.
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18th century - 19th century - 20th century
1780s  1790s  1800s  - 1810s -  1820s  1830s  1840s
1812 1813 1814 - 1815 - 1816 1817 1818

:
Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
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A. a. sonoriensis

Trinomial name
Antilocapra americana sonoriensis
Goldman, 1945

The Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) is an endangered[1]
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In scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. Usage and terminology are different for zoology and botany.

Zoology

In zoological nomenclature, synonyms are different scientific names that pertain to the same taxon, for example
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family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Code which applies.
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North America is a continent [1] in the Earth's northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west
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Acinonyx
Brookes, 1828

Species: A. jubatus

Binomial name
Acinonyx jubatus
(Schreber, 1775)

Type species
Acinonyx venator
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Antelope are herbivorous mammals of the family Bovidae, often noted for their horns. These animals are spread relatively evenly throughout the various subfamilies of the Bovidae and many are more closely related to cows or goats than to each other.
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horn is a living, vein and artery filled, pointed projection of the skin of various animals, consisting mainly of keratin as well as other proteins. True horns are found only among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae (pronghorn) and Bovidae (cows, buffalo,
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Cervidae
Goldfuss, 1820

Subfamilies

Capreolinae/Odocoileinae
Cervinae
Hydropotinae
Muntiacinae

A deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae.
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The gallbladder (or cholecyst, sometimes gall bladder) is a pear-shaped organ that stores about 50 ml of bile (or "gall") until the body needs it for digestion.
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State of South Dakota

Flag of South Dakota Seal
Nickname(s): The Mount Rushmore State (official),
The Sunshine State
Motto(s): Under God the people rule

Official language(s) English

Capital
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Motto
"In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
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Saskatchewan


Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: "The Strength of Many Peoples")

Capital Regina
Largest city Saskatoon
Official languages English
Government
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Alberta


Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Fortis et liber"   (Latin)
"Strong and free"

Capital Edmonton
Largest city Calgary
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