Blesbok
- The bontebok was saved from extinction by a farmer who fenced the last 17 individuals in the 19th century; all modern ones are their descendants.
- The antelope can run at up to 70 km/h but is a poor jumper over fences.
- In captivity it has lived about 15 years.
- Litters contain one young.
- It has a characteristic black-and-white pattern and a white “mask” on the face.
- Males have lyre-shaped horns.
- It forms herds.
- It is diurnal and feeds on grasses.
- It inhabits South Africa.
- The main threat is hunting.
Age
Blesboks typically live from 17 years and 3 months to 28 years and 9 months, with a maximum lifespan of 23 years; the species reaches sexual maturity from 1 year and 7 months to 4 years. The embryo develops inside the mother and receives nourishment from her. At birth, the young’s eyes open, and it begins to walk. The young feeds on its mother's milk and gradually starts eating grass during the infant stage, which lasts from 1 day to 6 months. The adult stage begins at 2 years and continues for 20 years, during which the blesbok is capable of reproduction and lives in a herd.
Phenotype
The blesbok has light brown fur with white markings on the face and rump for its young, while adult blesboks have short brown fur with a bright white stripe on the muzzle and a white spot on the rump. Adult males possess dark, ringed horns that they use in territorial disputes. The species’ long and strong legs allow for rapid running when threatened.
Physiology
The body length of a blesbok ranges from 1.4 to 1.7 meters; the species’ mass is 84.5 kilograms. During the embryo stage, the body mass ranges from 1 gram to 8 kilograms. The young have a body mass ranging from 7 to 22 kilograms and a body length from 60 centimeters to 1 meter. Adult blesboks have a body mass ranging from 55 to 70 kilograms and a body length from 1.4 to 1.6 meters.
Habitat
Bontboks inhabit land, preferring terrestrial grasslands and steppes, as well as grassy areas and plains, being found up to an altitude above sea level of 2 km. The species populates tropical savanna where the climate is characterized by heat and uneven rainfall, as well as temperate steppe with an abundance of grass and few trees. Bontboks are found in hot steppe with a very hot summer and drought, in zones with a very dry climate where rains are extremely rare, and in areas that are dry and cold almost all year. Climatic conditions of their habitat include little precipitation in winter and their increase in summer, as well as periods when it is very hot and there is practically no precipitation.
Shelter
Blesboks inhabit open grassy plains and do not have permanent or long-term shelters. The species utilizes grass for shelter, which serves both as protection from predators and a place to rest. There is no fixed shelter for the bontebok.
Geography
Blesboks are found in the biogeographical realms of Afrotropics and Australasia.
Feeding
The blesbok is a grazer that feeds on grass and obtains nourishment through grazing; it clips short green shoots on open areas. The species’ diet includes grass, grains, and cereal. The feeding strategy involves foraging and grazing. Daily food consumption ranges from 2 kilograms to 4.5 kilograms.
Reproduction
The blesbok, also known as bontebok or sassaby, reproduces through live birth on land, without eggs or larvae. The female carries a single offspring for about eight months during gestation; she gives birth to one young after this period. Newborns conceal themselves in grass. The species reaches maturity from 2 years to 3 years and 4 months. The female produces offspring at an interval of 11 months to 2 years, with each litter containing only one individual. Eggs, larvae, or young are laid directly on the ground without shelter. Reproduction always involves fertilization, but does not involve alternation of generations.