Springbok: Difference between revisions

The '''springbok''' or '''springbuck''' ('''''Antidorcas marsupialis''''') is a medium-sizedan [[antelope]] found mainly in south and southwest Africa. The sole member of the [[genus (biology)|genus]] ''Antidorcas'', this [[bovid]] was first [[Species description|described]] by the German zoologist [[Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann]] in 1780. Three [[subspecies]] are identified. A slender, long-legged antelope, the springbok reaches {{cvt|71|to|86|cm|in}} at the shoulder and weighs between {{cvt|27|and|42|kg}}. Both sexes have a pair of black, {{cvt|35|to|50|cm|in|adj=on}} long [[horn (anatomy)|horns]] that curve backwards. The springbok is characterised by a white face, a dark stripe running from the eyes to the mouth, a light-brown [[coat (animal)|coat]] marked by a reddish-brown stripe that runs from the upper fore leg to the buttocks across the flanks like the [[Thomson's gazelle]], and a white [[Rump (animal)|rump]] flap.

The common name "springbok", first recorded in 1775, comes from the [[Afrikaans Language|Afrikaans]] words ''{{lang|af|spring''}} ("jump") and ''{{lang|af|bok''}} ("[[antelope]]" or "[[goat]]").<ref name=Cain2004/> The [[Binomial nomenclature|scientific name]] of the springbok is ''Antidorcas marsupialis''. ''{{transl|grc|Anti''}} is [[Greek language|Greek]] for "opposite", and ''{{transl|grc|dorcas''}} for "[[gazelle]]" – identifying the animal as not a gazelle. The [[specific name (zoology)|specific epithet]] ''marsupialis'' comes from the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''{{lang|la|marsupium''}} ("pocket"), and refers to a pocket-like skin flap which extends along the midline of the back from the tail,<ref name=Bigalke1972/> which distinguishes the springbok from true gazelles.<ref name=rafferty>{{cite book|last1=Rafferty|first1=J.P.|title=Grazers|url=https://archive.org/details/grazers0000raff|url-access=registration|date=2011|publisher=Britannica Educational Pub.|location=New York|isbn=978-1-61530-465-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/grazers0000raff/page/103 103]–104|edition=1st}}</ref>

Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps of up to {{cvt|2|m}} into the air – a practice known as [[pronking]] (derived from the Afrikaans ''pronk'', "to show off") or stotting.<ref name=Cain2004/> In pronking, the springbok performs multiple leaps into the air in a stiff-legged posture, with the back bowed and the white flap lifted. When the male shows off his strength to attract a mate, or to ward off predators, he starts off in a stiff-legged trot, leaping into the air with an arched back every few paces and lifting the flap along his back. Lifting the flap causes the long white hairs under the tail to stand up in a conspicuous fan shape, which in turn emits a strong scent of sweat.<ref name=Bigalke1972>{{cite journal | last= Bigalke |first= R.C. | year = 1972 | title = Observations on the behaviour and feeding habits of the springbok ''Antidorcas marsupialis'' | journal = [[African Zoology|Zoologica Africana]] | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | url=http://hdl.handle.net/10499/AJ19390 | pages = 333–359 | doi=10.1080/00445096.1972.11447448|hdl= 10499/AJ19390 | doi-access = free }} {{open access}}</ref> Although the exact cause of this behaviour is unknown, springbok exhibit this activity when they are nervous or otherwise excited. The most accepted theory for pronking is that it is a method to raise alarm against a potential predator or confuse it, or to get a better view of a concealed predator; it may also be used for [[Display (zoology)|display]].

A 2012 study on the effects of rainfall patterns and parasite infections on the body of the springbok in [[Etosha National Park]] observed that males and juveniles were in better health toward the end of the rainy season. Health of females was more affected by parasites than by rainfall; parasite count in females peaked prior to and immediately after parturition.<ref name="Turner2012">{{cite journal|last1=Turner|first1=W.C.|last2=Versfeld|first2=W.D.|last3=Kilian|first3=J.W.|last4=Getz|first4=W.M.|title=Synergistic effects of seasonal rainfall, parasites, and demography on fluctuations in springbok body condition|journal=Journal of Animal Ecology|date=2012|volume=81|issue=1|pages=58–69|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01892.x|pmid=21831195|pmc=3217112|bibcode=2012JAnEc..81...58T }} {{open access}}</ref> Studies show that springbok host [[helminth]]s (''[[Haemonchus]]'', ''[[Longistrongylus]]'' and ''[[Trichostrongylus]]''), [[ixodid]] [[tick]]s (''[[Rhipicephalus]]'' species), lice (''[[Damalinia]]'' and ''[[Linognathus]]'' species).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Horak|first1=I.G.|last2=Meltzer|first2=D.G.A.|last3=Vos|first3=V.D.|title=Helminth and arthropod parasites of springbok, ''Antidorcas marsupialis'', in the Transvaal and western Cape Province|journal=Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research|date=1982|volume=49|issue=1|pages=7–10|pmid=7122069|url=http://phthiraptera.info/Publications/8148.pdf|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505154347/http://phthiraptera.info/Publications/8148.pdf|archive-date=5 May 2016|url-status=dead}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Horak|first1=I.G.|last2=Anthonissen|first2=M.|last3=Krecek|first3=R.C.|last4=Boomker|first4=J.|title=Arthropod parasites of springbok, gemsbok, kudus, giraffes and Burchell's and Hartmann's zebras in the Etosha and Hardap Nature Reserves, Namibia|journal=Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research|date=1992|volume=59|issue=4|pages=253–257|pmid=1297955|url=http://www.the-eis.com/data/literature/Arthropod%20parasites%20_1992.pdf}} {{open access}}</ref> ''[[Eimeria]]'' species mainly affect juveniles.<ref name=Turner2012/>