# Springbok (*Antidorcas marsupialis*)

> The springbok is a medium-sized, fawn-and-white antelope of the arid grasslands of southern Africa, and the national animal of South Africa. Standing lightly built at around 1.5 m long and 30 to 50 kg, it is famous for pronking, a stiff-legged leap up to 2 m high. It grazes and browses on grasses, shrubs, and succulents, can sprint up to 88 km/h, and typically lives 10 to 12 years in the wild.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Arid grasslands and shrublands of Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Angola — national symbol of South Africa.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/springbok/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Antidorcas

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Antidorcas marsupialis |
| Diet | Herbivore — grasses, shrubs, and succulents |
| Habitat | Arid and semi-arid grasslands of southern Africa |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years in the wild |
| Weight | 30–50 kg (66–110 lb); rams slightly heavier |
| Top speed | Up to 88 km/h (55 mph); pronking leaps up to 2 m high |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Pronking, the signature leap

The springbok takes its name from its habit of pronking, also called stotting: a series of stiff-legged, arch-backed bounds that can carry it up to 2 m off the ground. When it pronks, the animal fans out a fold of white skin along its back, flashing a crest of long white hairs. Biologists think pronking signals fitness to predators, effectively telling a lion or cheetah that this individual is too alert and fit to be worth chasing. It may also serve to alarm the herd and confuse an attacker.

## Speed and survival

Springbok are among the fastest land animals, able to sprint at up to 88 km/h over open ground. That raw speed, combined with sharp senses and sudden changes of direction, is their main defence against cheetahs, lions, and hunting dogs. They are also remarkably agile, capable of leaping long distances at full gallop. Living in herds adds safety in numbers, with many eyes watching for danger across the open plains.

## Diet and desert adaptation

Springbok are mixed feeders that graze on grasses when they are green and browse on shrubs, leaves, and succulents when grass is scarce. This flexibility lets them thrive in the dry, unpredictable environment of the Karoo, Kalahari, and Namib fringes. They are well adapted to going without free-standing water, drawing much of their moisture from the plants they eat, and they often feed at dawn, dusk, and even at night to avoid the worst heat. Succulent tubers and roots dug from the ground provide extra water in the driest months.

## Herds and social life

Springbok are social animals that gather in herds ranging from small family groups to, historically, enormous aggregations. In the past, migrating herds numbering in the hundreds of thousands, known as treks, once swept across the South African interior in search of grazing. Today herds are far smaller, but the animals remain gregarious, with mixed groups of females and young and separate bachelor groups of males. Dominant rams hold territories during the breeding season and compete for access to females.

## Breeding and young

Breeding can occur at various times of year but often peaks to coincide with the rains, when food is most plentiful. After a gestation of around six months, a female gives birth to a single lamb, which she hides in vegetation for the first days of life. Lambs are up and running remarkably quickly, an essential ability in open country full of predators. Within a few weeks they join the herd, where the safety of numbers improves their chances of reaching adulthood.

## Status and importance

The springbok is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common across much of southern Africa, particularly in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. It is farmed on private ranches and game reserves and hunted both for meat and as a game animal, which gives it strong economic value. As the national animal of South Africa, it lends its name to the country's rugby team, the Springboks. Well-managed populations on protected and private land help keep the species secure.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is pronking?

Pronking is the springbok's signature stiff-legged leap, in which it bounds up to 2 m into the air with an arched back and flared white crest. It is thought to signal fitness to predators and to alert the rest of the herd to danger.

### How fast can a springbok run?

Springbok can sprint at up to 88 km/h, making them one of the fastest land animals. Their speed and agility are their main defences against predators such as cheetahs and lions.

### Where do springbok live?

They inhabit the arid and semi-arid grasslands of southern Africa, especially South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. They are well suited to dry areas like the Karoo and Kalahari, where they can survive with little standing water.

### What do springbok eat?

Springbok are mixed feeders that graze on grasses and browse on shrubs, leaves, and succulents. They can go long periods without drinking, getting much of their water from the plants they eat.

### How much does a springbok weigh?

Adult springbok weigh roughly 30 to 50 kg and measure about 1.5 m in length, with rams slightly heavier than ewes. They are lightly built, which helps them reach their high speeds.

### Why is the springbok important to South Africa?

The springbok is South Africa's national animal and lends its name to the national rugby team. It is also economically important, farmed and hunted for its meat across private reserves and ranches.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Antidorcas marsupialis.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Antidorcas%20marsupialis&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Antidorcas marsupialis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Antidorcas_marsupialis/)

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