Editing Antelope (section)

==Behavior==

===Mating strategies===
[[File:Tragelaphus scriptus (pair).jpg|thumb|Forest-dwelling [[Harnessed bushbuck|bushbuck]]]]
Antelope are often classified by their reproductive behavior.

Small antelope, such as [[dik-dik]]s, tend to be monogamous. They live in a forest environment with patchy resources, and a male is unable to monopolize more than one female due to this sparse distribution. Larger forest species often form very small herds of two to four females and one male.

Some species, such as [[lechwe]]s, pursue a lek breeding system, where the males gather on a lekking ground and compete for a small territory, while the females appraise males and choose one with which to mate.

Large grazing antelope, such as [[impala]] or [[wildebeest]], form large herds made up of many females and a single breeding male, which excludes all other males, often by combat.

===Defense===
[[File:Grant's-gazelle.jpg|thumb|right|Fast-running [[gazelle]]s prefer open grassland habitat]]
Antelope pursue a number of defense strategies, often dictated by their morphology.

Large antelope that gather in large herds, such as wildebeest, rely on numbers and running speed for protection. In some species, adults will encircle the offspring, protecting them from predators when threatened. Many forest antelope rely on [[crypsis|cryptic]] coloring and good hearing to avoid predators. Forest antelope often have very large ears and dark or striped colorations. Small antelope, especially [[duiker]]s, evade predation by jumping into dense bush where the predator cannot pursue.<ref>Bere, Rennie (1970) ''The World of Animals: Antelopes''. Arco Publishing Company, New York.</ref> Springboks use a behavior known as [[stotting]] to confuse predators.

Open grassland species have nowhere to hide from predators, so they tend to be fast runners. They are [[Agility|agile]] and have good [[endurance]]—these are advantages when pursued by sprint-dependent predators such as [[cheetah]]s, which are the fastest of land animals, but tire quickly. Reaction distances vary with predator species and behaviour. For example, gazelles may not flee from a [[lion]] until it is closer than 200&nbsp;m (650&nbsp;ft)—lions hunt as a pride or by surprise, usually by stalking; one that can be seen clearly is unlikely to attack. However, sprint-dependent cheetahs will cause gazelles to flee at a range of over {{convert|800|m|mi|frac=2|abbr=off}}.<ref>Kingdon, Jonathan. (1997). ''The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals''. Academic Press, San Diego & London. {{ISBN|0124083552}}</ref>

If escape is not an option, antelope are capable of fighting back. [[Oryx]]es in particular have been known to stand sideways like many unrelated bovids to appear larger than they are, and may charge at a predator as a last resort.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/oryx | title=Oryx |publisher=San Diego Zoo}}</ref>