What kind of animal is a klipspringer?

A klipspringer is an African antelope. Its scientific name is Oreotragus oreotragus, and it lives mainly in the rocky landscapes of eastern and southern Africa.

The name comes from Afrikaans: klip means “rock” and springer means “leaper.” This small antelope is built for steep terrain. It walks on the tips of its short, cylindrical hooves, which give it remarkable grip on rocky ledges and allow it to hop confidently across cliffs and boulder fields. Its thick, coarse coat also helps insulate it in exposed mountain habitats.

Klipspringers are much smaller than familiar antelopes such as wildebeest or kudu. They usually browse on young plants, fruits and flowers, and can obtain much of their water from succulent vegetation. Pairs often form long-lasting bonds and remain close together while one animal feeds and the other watches for danger. The animal is sometimes called a klipbok, but “African antelope” is the standard classification and the fair quiz answer.