# Pronghorn (*Antilocapra americana*)

> The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the fastest land mammal in the Americas, sprinting near 90 km/h across western grasslands and sagebrush from Canada to northern Mexico. Adults weigh about 50 kg, eat forbs and shrubs, and are listed Least Concern — though fences that block migration still threaten some herds.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Grasslands and sagebrush of western North America from Canada to northern Mexico.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/pronghorn/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Antilocapridae
- **Genus:** Antilocapra

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Antilocapra americana |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Open plains, sagebrush, and desert grassland |
| Lifespan | Around 10 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 50 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 90 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## America's speed specialist

Pronghorns are not true antelopes; they are the sole living antilocaprids. Hollow hairs provide insulation, and oversized hearts and lungs support sustained high-speed flight from extinct American cheetahs' legacy predators. Horns are shed annually in males — unique among horned bovids' relatives.

## Forbs of the open plains

Diet focuses on forbs, sagebrush, and other shrubs more than pure grass. Keen eyesight detects movement kilometres away on flat terrain. Across its range it is tied to open plains, sagebrush, and desert grassland, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Canada to Mexico grasslands

Open plains, sagebrush, and desert grassland of western North America from southern Canada through the western United States into northern Mexico.

## Fences versus migration

Least Concern overall after near-extirpation in the nineteenth century, yet woven-wire fences block traditional routes. Wildlife-friendly fence designs and corridor protection help migrating herds.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a pronghorn an antelope?

It is often called the American antelope but belongs to its own family, Antilocapridae — not the African-Asian Bovidae antelopes.

### How fast can a pronghorn run?

Top speeds approach roughly 90 km/h, with remarkable endurance at slightly lower paces.

### Do pronghorns shed their horns?

Males shed the outer horn sheath annually — unusual among horned ungulates.

### Why are fences bad for pronghorns?

They rarely jump and instead crawl under barriers; tight woven fences block seasonal migrations to food and fawning grounds.

### Where do pronghorns live?

Grasslands and sagebrush of western North America from Canada to northern Mexico.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/pronghorn/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.