Steenbok

The steenbok is a smaller breed of antelope that stands about 16-24 inches (45-60 cm) and has a fur coat that is commonly a reddish-brown color. Despite its broadly colored coat, the animal has stripes of white under its belly, around its eyes, and near its mouth. Male steenboks have smooth horns that can grow up to 2-7 inches (7-19 cm) while females do not bear horns at all. The tail of the steenbok is not commonly visible, only growing to be 1-2 in (2-4 cm) in length.

Like other antelopes of its kind, the steenbok commonly is a solitary animal except for its need to mate. Steenboks seem to live in almost any moderate area in Southeastern Africa. The animal is known for residing in semi-desert areas, such as the edges of the Kalahari Desert. During the dry season, steenboks are not known to migrate or move to cooler areas unlike most animals of their kind.

Breeding for the steenbok occurs at all times during the year, but most fawns are born during the months of November-December. Gestation usually lasts about 170 days, with one fawn born per pregnancies. Females become sexually mature at about 7seven months while males commonly mature about two months later at nine months.

==== The steenbok is a herbivore, feeding on plants and grass. They mostly graze lazily throughout the day. Although the steenbok doesn’t excessively feed themselves, they do get fed on. Known predators are the African wild cat, caracal, jackals , leopard , martial eagle and pythons. They are known to try to trick their predators by running in zig-zagged patterns to throw them off. Although the animal is a common prey, it is rated “least concern” on its conservation status. ====