springbok

(Antidorcas marsupialis), an artiodactyl mammal of the family Bovidae. The body length is 120 to 140 cm, the tail length reaches 87 cm, and the weight is 32–36 kg. The back and sides are yellow-brown; the sides are marked with dark stripes. The head and underparts are white. Along the back and croup there is a fold of skin with long, light hairs that stand up, forming a white crest, when the animal is frightened or excited. Both males and females have lyre-shaped horns reaching a length of 40 cm. The springbok is a herd animal that inhabits the forest-less plains of southern Africa (south of 10° S lat.). In fright or in play it jumps as high as 3.5 m. The springbok feeds on grass and the leaves of shrubs. Nearly extinct, it has been preserved only in a few national parks in southern Africa.