Antelope

Antelope ( n ) is a common collective name for a number, not more closely related to the part of the Bovidae species ( Bovidae ).

The term is not used in biological taxonomy. Rather, he serves as the everyday linguistic collective name of the predominantly wild Bovidae in Africa and Asia in contrast to the traditional domesticated species of Bovidae. However, the various antelopes do not form phylogenetic and therefore no systematic unity. They represent the majority of the over 100 species of Bovidae.

Since the term is not scientific, there are different definitions. In general, we mean by antelope all Bovidae, not to the caprine ( Caprinae ), which consist primarily of sheep and goats, or cattle ( Bovini ) belong. Antelopes are therefore the duiker, the Bovinae without the cattle, the hartebeest, the horse bucks, the Reduncinae that Aepycerotinae and the gazelle -like. To further subdivision of these taxa see Bovidae.

The Duden defined as the antelope in Africa and Asia, occurring in herds of wild mammal of varying size with a slim body and curved or curled horns. In some species, however, the females have no horns.

The Pronghorn native to North America resembles externally the antelopes of Africa and Asia and is therefore sometimes referred to as " American antelope " or " fork horn antelope ", but not one of the bovids.

Mythical creatures

The word " antelope " (via Latin antalopus of gr ἀνθόλοψ ) is used in its modern sense only since the early modern period, in ancient and medieval bestiaries called it a wild mythical creature that lives on the banks of the Euphrates. It was so nimble that no hunter can make it, its horns are sharp as saws and the animal is able to allow trees to fell. However, it sometimes gets caught by its horns in the thicket, only then it can be killed.

This fabulous antelope found in medieval heraldry input. As an emblem graced about the seal of the English kings Henry IV, V and VI.