Mammals
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis · also called springboks
Bouncing straight up with all four legs held rigid, a springbok performs one of the most recognisable displays in the animal kingdom, a stiff-legged jump called pronking that has made this South African antelope famous well beyond the grasslands it calls home.
Overview
The springbok, Antidorcas marsupialis, is a fast, agile antelope native to savanna and grassland habitat across southern Africa. Its distinctive stiff-legged pronking display, historically massive herd gatherings, and status as South Africa’s national animal make it one of the most culturally significant and instantly recognisable antelope species found anywhere in Africa.
A jump built to be seen
The springbok’s pronking display stands out immediately even among a landscape full of running herds, a rigid, bouncing leap distinctive enough that it has become one of the defining images of southern African wildlife.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable savanna and grassland habitat throughout southern Africa.
Springbok: common questions
What is pronking?
Pronking is a distinctive stiff-legged jumping display performed by this species, bouncing straight up into the air with all four legs held rigid, a behaviour believed to signal fitness to predators or confuse them during a chase.
Why is the springbok important to South Africa?
This species is the national animal of South Africa, a status significant enough that the country's national rugby team is named after it.
How large can springbok herds get?
This species can form extremely large herds, historically numbering in the hundreds of thousands during major seasonal movements across southern African grassland.
What happens to the springbok's back during pronking?
This species has a fold of skin along its back that opens to reveal a crest of white hair during pronking, adding a visual signal to the display beyond the jumping itself.