Springbok

<<<< Extinct animal: Bluebuck >>>>Future Animal: Sneeubok __**The Springbok**__

=The Springbok or //Antidorcas Marsupialis// is a medium sized brown and white gazelle found in the desert and semi desert environment and is the national animal of South Africa. The Springbok has many both structural and physical adaptations that have allowed it to survive in its desert environment. =

**Scientific Classification**

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Antilopinae Genus: Antidocras Species: Antidorcas marsupialis

**Habitat**

The Springbok inhabits the dry inland areas of South and South Western Africa, in the deserts where there are wide-open plains. They can be found in large numbers up to 250,000 in the Kalahari Desert, as some of their many adaptations have allowed them to survive drinking very little water. As well as the Kalahari Desert, they are also found in the vast grasslands of the Free State in South Africa, the shrub lands of the Karoo, the grasslands of Southern Namibia but the majority of the Springbok population is found in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana.

The desert environment of the Springbok consists of dry riverbeds, short grass savannah, or any place that has wide open spaces and short grass, allowing the Springbok to run, jump and ‘pronk’ easily and the short grass allows them to see predators from a distance and give them an opportunity to run away from then. Springbok’s usually tend to avoid areas with long grass as it makes it harder for them to run and spot the predators such as cheetahs, hyenas and jackals.

The environment of the springbok also includes a warm temperature. The temperature range of the Kalahari Desert and the areas around is about 20-45°. Not only is the Kalahari Desert a warm place, but also very dry, receiving less than 200mm of rain per year. This climate is well suited to the Springbok, as their short fur does not provide much insulation from the heat, which is necessary for the springbok to survive in such a hot temperature.

Naturally, the habitat of the Springbok is directly linked with its diet. Springboks, as with all other antelopes are herbivores, meaning they only survive on plants and not any meat. Springbok’ s are mixed feeders, which means they change between browsing and grazing seasonally. They graze when the grasses are young and tender, and browse succulents and shrubs. Springbok’s can keep hydrated through the plants and shrubs they eat, as long as the water content is above 10%, although some Springbok’s can last their whole life without drinking any water. Some of the plants and shrubs the Springbok feeds on include themeda triandra, lampranthus and also have been known to eat wild melons and cucumbers because they have a high water content.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">As well as wide open plains, hot temperatures and desert plants the habitat of the springbok consists of many other animals. The main predators of the springbok include [|cheetahs], jackals and hyenas, although they mainly prey on the lambs, old, weak and individuals. The reason for this is they travel in large herds and their speed and ability to jump makes them difficult targets for predators.

** Behavioural/physiological adaptation 1: Require little water **
**How it helps:** Springbok’s requiring as little water as possible is important in ensuring their survival. The harsh desert environment they live in contains plants with little water content. In order for the species to survive, they have adapted to require little amounts of water. **Environmental pressure:** The environmental pressure that made the springboks adapt to survive on as little war as possible is the changing climate which has made the environment drier and contain less water. The pressure of the climate change has forced springboks to rely on plants, shrubs and seeds that are succulent, the springboks then extract the moisture from the plants and this provides them with enough water to keep hydrated. media type="youtube" key="FlddKpKVXV4" height="314" width="382" align="right"
 * Adaptation ** : Springbok’s have adapted to survive in the desert and semi-desert environments by requiring very little water. They receive the little water they do need through plants, as long as they contain at least 10% water. They extract the water to keep hydrated from plants, grasses, shrubs and some fruits such as wild melons and cucumbers. Springbok’s graze during the early morning, late afternoon and evening because of the cooler temperatures and the water content in the plants is higher. Springbok’s can go through the whole dry season without drinking any water, and their have be some extreme cases reported of some that have gone their whole lives without drinking any water.

** Behavioural adaptation 2: Pronking **

**How it helps**: This is an evolutionarily selected behaviour that helps ward of predators. It helps springboks by scaring off predators by showing off how strong and fast they are. This makes them less likely to be targeted, and ensures their survival. **Environmental pressure:** The environmental pressure that has lead to this adaptation is the animals such as cheetahs and hyenas that prey on springboks. The pressure from these stronger, faster animals forced the Springbok to develop a skill that wards them off and by jumping into the air this is a form of proving their strength.
 * Adaptation ** : A behavioural adaptation of the Springbok is known as Pronking or stotting. The word pronking is Afrikaans for show off or boast. When they pronk they do a stiff legged jump with the back arched, head facing down and legs hanging straight down, and can jump up to two meters. The purpose of pronking is to reduce the distance between the Springbok and its predator, making it easier to get away from. By jumping 13ft into the air, this signals to the predator its comparative fitness as a form of boasting. Springbok’s have a pocket like flap of skin which extends from the middle of the back to the tail, and when they are showing off their strength to impress a mate, or warn off a predator they go into a stiff legged trot, jumping in the air every few paces and lifting their flap of skin on their back. When the flap is lifted, the hair underneath stand up in a fan like shape, this emits a strong scent of smell. Pronking is also used to attract mates through showing off.

** Behavioural adaptation 3: Polygamous breeding ** **How it helps:** This helps the species because Springbok’s only have one offspring at a time, they must have more than one partner in a life in order to ensure the species is carried on. It is because of this that Springbok’s can be found in the largest herds of all animals, up to 250,000. **Environmental pressure**: The environmental pressure that has led to Springboks becoming polygamous breeders is that female Springboks (ewes) have only one offspring at a time. In order to maintain substantial numbers of Springboks, they must reproduce with a number of the territorial males in their lifetime.
 * Adaptation ** : Another behavioural adaptation of the springbok is it’s polygamous breeding. Polygamous breeding means they have more than one mate over their lifetime. In a typical Springbok herd there are territorial males, known as rams, lots of female springboks, known as ewes and the offspring. Springbok’s usually mate during the dry season, and have a gestation period of around 5-6 months. Generally, except for a few rare exceptions they have one offspring at a time.

** Structural adaptation 1: Fur ** he bottom, with a dark brown stripe on each side from the shoulder to the thigh. Their face, ears, and underside are all white. The flap of skin that is on the midback of the Springbok folds pack during. **How it helps:** Having a short coat of brownish fur helps the Springbok immensely in the desert climate. The short coat of fur is necessary due to the desert temperatures sometimes exceeding 45°. The importance of having short fur is to provide as little insulation as possible in order to sustain the extremely hot climate. The colours of the fur are light, which means they reflect the sunlight and therefore the temperature of the Springbok stays cooler. Not only do the light colours of the fur reflect the sunlight, but they also cause the Springbok to blend into the desert environment. This helps as it makes it less likely to be seen by the predators, and therefore less likely to be eaten. **Environmental pressure:** The environmental pressure that has caused the Springbok’s to adapt is the hot climate, desert environment and the Springbok’s predators. The hot climate has made the Springbok evolve to have short hair because the short hair provide less insulation, which is needed in the hot desert climates. The colour of the desert environment and the predators in the desert have made the Springbok adapt to having light coloured fur. This ensures they stay hidden from predators and absorb less heat.
 * Adaptation: ** A structural adaptation of the Springbok is its short coat, brown coat of fur. Their short fur consists of three main colours including a brownish/reddish tan, dark brown and white. Springbok’s back is tan coloured and are white at t

** Structural adaptati **** on 2: Horns ** **How it helps:** The horns of the springbok help in a few major ways. The horns of the Springbok are hollow, which does not make them useful in fending off predators, as they are not sturdy and solid. Instead of being used to fight predators, they are used to fight each other. They fight against other, and usually over a ram or to gain territory. When rams fight against other rams, they usually lock their horns. Their fighting consists of front pressing, levering, lateral twisting which sometimes results in a fight to the death. **Environmental pressure:**The environmental pressure that has lead to Springbok’s developing the adaptation of horns is the increasing numbers of territorial males. This had lead to males developing the need to compete with each other in order to mate with the ewes. When males compete with each other to gain territory, it ensures the strongest genes are passed on through the generations.
 * Adaptation: ** A structural adaptation of the springbok is their horns. Springbok’s have black, ringed, curved horns and unlike many other species of antelope, Springbok’s are not sexually dimorphic. This means that horns are present in both the males and females (rams and ewes). The average length of horns on a springbok are around 35cm, although the rams horns tend to be thicker and longer where as the female horns tend to be thinner and more frail. The horns are unusual, with their curved shape and the tips in a hooked shape pointing inwards.

** Bibliography **
[], Title: Springbok, Date: 2003, Author Kalahari Trophy Hunting, Retrieved 10/6/2011

[], Title: Wildlife: Springbok, Date: 2005, Author: South Africa venues, Retrieved 12/6/2011

[], Title: Hard hoofed animals: The springbok, Date 2009, Author: The animal files, Retrieved 12/6/2011

[]. Title: Springbok - Antidocras marsupialis, Date 2008, Retrieved 15/6/2011

[], Title: Antidocras marsupialis, Date 2010, Retrieved 15/6/2011, Author: John Smith.