# Bontebok/Blesbok (*Damaliscus pygargus*) The Bontebok, also known as the Blesbok, is a beautiful antelope with a striking white face and dark brown body. They love to roam in grassy areas and are known for their graceful leaps and runs. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Blesbok ![Bontebok/Blesbok](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bontebok_Namibia.jpg&width=800) Photo: Thomas Schoch, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bontebok_Namibia.jpg) ## Appearance The Bontebok/Blesbok has a striking white blaze running from forehead to muzzle, making its face highly distinctive. Its body is typically a rich, reddish-brown, contrasting with a pure white belly and lower legs. Both males and females possess ringed, lyre-shaped horns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Damaliscus ## Interesting facts - Wow! A Bontebok's horns can grow over half a meter long and are ringed like a stack of donuts! - Wow! Blesboks can jump over 2 meters high from a standing start – taller than most adults! - Wow! Bonteboks were once almost extinct with only 17 left, but they made an amazing comeback! - Wow! They often face the sun in the morning to warm up, like getting ready for the day! ## Special abilities - **Blazing Speed:** Bontebok/Blesbok can run up to 70 km/h because of its powerful leg muscles that help them escape predators rapidly. - **Keen Sentinel:** Bontebok/Blesbok has excellent eyesight and hearing that help them spot and detect dangers across vast open plains. - **Territory Marker:** Bontebok/Blesbok has special glands near its eyes that help them mark their territory with a unique scent for communication. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 160-210 cm - **Weight:** 55-150 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 225-255 days ## Diet & Feeding These antelopes munch on grasses and sometimes herbs to stay healthy and strong. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Herbs, Forbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — A main predator in their natural habitat. - **Eaten by:** Spotted Hyaena (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Often preys on young or weaker antelopes. - **Eaten by:** Black-backed Jackal (*Canis mesomelas*) — Opportunistic predator of calves and sick animals. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always observe wild animals from a safe distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bontebok/Blesbok? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bontebok/Blesbok? 160-210 cm ### How much does Bontebok/Blesbok weigh? 55-150 kg ### How long does Bontebok/Blesbok live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Bontebok/Blesbok move? 70 km/h ### What does Bontebok/Blesbok eat? These antelopes munch on grasses and sometimes herbs to stay healthy and strong. ### Where is Bontebok/Blesbok usually found? Grasslands ### How does Bontebok/Blesbok hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Bontebok/Blesbok: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bontebok-blesbok)