Animal Planet :: Mammal Guide -- Temperate Grassland

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Pronghorn

The pronghorn is the fastest North American mammal, capable of sprinting up to forty miles (60 km) per hour and maintaining speeds of thirty miles (45 km) per hour.

It lives in small scattered groups in the summer, but in winter herds of up to a hundred may converge, foraging for grasses, weeds, shrubs, and forbs.

When a pronghorn is alerted to danger, the white hairs on its rump will stand erect, signaling the others to flee.

Both male and female have horns but the male's are larger.

During breeding season, the male marks its territory with droppings and urine, and violently defends its harem against all rivals.

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	Name: Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) Family: Antilocapridae (Pronghorn) Range: Western North America into Mexico Habitat: Grassland, open prairie, and desert Diet: Browse, forbs, bunchgrass, sagebrush, cactus, and other vegetation Head and Body Length: 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m) Tail Length: 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) Shoulder Height: 31.5 to 39 inches (80 to 100 cm) Weight: 77 to 154 pounds (35 to 70 kg) Life Cycle: Mating September to October, earlier in southern locales; gestation 230 to 250 days, usually two young born Description: Reddish-brown to tan coat; white underside, face, rump and neck bands; males have a black mask and neck patches; large, protruding eyes; pronged horns; deer-like body Conservation Status: Not listed by the IUCN.