THE ANTELOPES

A family of 74 quite different species

Synopsis

Among mammals, antelopes epitomize the most dramatic form of evolution.

They account for 74 species in Africa. The smallest weighs 1.5 kilos and is 0.2 meters high, against 600 kilos and 1.8 meters for the biggest. They are all ruminants with hooves and horns but differ greatly in diet, social organization, and strategies for avoiding predators.

The formidable expansion of this animal family lies in its ability to choose its own niche successfully, even under the most extreme conditions.