Everyone knows the fastest land animal in the world is the cheetah, but not everyone knows the second fastest animal in the world is the North American Pronghorn Antelope. Pronghorns can run up to 55 mph for .5 miles. They can run 35 mph for up to 4 miles. In fact, they can run at high speeds for more sustained periods than African Cheetahs.
This is a puzzling ability because no predator in North America can run fast enough to catch a pronghorn, so why is it necessary for pronghorns to run this fast?
Biologists believe that pronghorns evolved to run these speeds in order to evade the now extinct American Cheetah.
During the Pleistocene era, there were twelve species of pronghorns in North America. By the time humans settled on the continent there were five.
We are now left with one remaining species. Pronghorns are in fact not antelopes at all but a unique species named Antilocapra Americana. Handsome creatures aren’t they?
Pronghorns range all over the American west, into Canada and northern Mexico.
They have the longest land migration of any species in the continental US.
They migrate 300 miles roundtrip, between Wyoming’s Upper Green River Basin,
and Grand Teton National Park.
Cheers to you from the fascinating Antilocapra Americana~
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Fascinating…love your posts.
Awwww, makes me happy to post them! <3
Hi Cindy,
> Handsome creatures aren’t they?
Yes. 🙂
Regards
Like these pictures, the North American Pronghorn Antelope are very beautiful. They must be good citizens too, for they don’t run faster than the typical speed limit of a two-lane highway – 55 mph… lol! 🙂
I could have said they evolved to race north american automobiles but it probably isn’t true! But who knows? No one drives much faster than 55mph and winding national park roads! 😉
What a gorgeous animal….I especially like the markings. But we’ll have to change the song:
O give me a home
where the buffalo roam
where the deer and
the almost-antelope play…..
Cracking up, where the deer and the Antilocapra Americana play! I wonder how you pronounce that? 😉
Aren’t they lovely.
Leslie
They are, and no wonder they don’t worry when I creep up on them, they can easily leave me in the dust!
So graceful too, I bet.
Leslie
Yes, extremely graceful, like impalas, but not good jumpers suprisingly.
Thanks for lots of cool facts that I never knew before with some beautiful pronghorn pics. That mirrored shot with the mountain and lake is gorgeous! I love armchair traveling with you! 🙂
I love having you along even more! <3
🙂
Beautiful photos and a terrific story, Cindy!
Awwww, shucks, thank you! 🙂
Cindy, you would make such a great nature documentary narrator! You sure know how to pair images and information in a way that makes learning facts fun and memorable! What incredibly beautiful creatures. So sad that we’re down to one pronghorn species. ~Lynn
You are such a good friend Lynn. I know from 12 species to 1. This leaves us no room for error with the remaining pronghorns. Plus, can you even imagine a north american cheetah???? That really gets my imagination going!
Yeah, I know! I just looked up pronghorns and the North American cheetah to see if there are any good approximations to what they looked like from what scientists can put together. However, nothing beats the real thing of course.
I’m going to do that now…….great minds…. 😉 😉
Absolutely beautiful!😞
The eyes and eyelashes got me right away! Glad you see the beauty too~
Yes indeed!
Wow, think of all the calories they burn running that fast. 😉
That shot of the mountains with the reflection in the water is gorgeous!
I know, it’s not fair about the calories, plus they only eat grass. I like to eat mud pie. If I ran 35mph for 4 miles everyday, maybe I could eat some mudpie everyday! Of course, I’ve have to be WILLING to run 4 miles everyday…….I’m not of course, so I just have to settle on eating grass.
Yum, mudpie. Very tasty. 🙂
I make it in all these different iterations, about once every two months, when I can actually eat it! But I did just cheat and made two in a row. It was just for my son of course……. 😉 😉
This is so cool, Cindy! I actually wrote a picture book story about how the pronghorn is not an antelope. My former agent got some interest in it but ultimately, it was never bought and might have to scrapped. I really love your photos!!
Well that’s not right. What’s wrong with your former agent? Now wonder he/she is former! Pronghorns really are fascinating and little understood creatures. I want to read your picture book story!
Well, in her defense, she tried as hard as she could to sell it. It is mostly the fault of the editors who passed on the story. Some day, when I get more desperate, I may even try to self-publish. It’s a funny story with good back matter. I believe in it. Thank you for the encouragement! xo
That’s very interesting indeed, Cindy. I would have thought the second fastest animal would have been another big cat.
Your landscape shots are stunning. Especially the first and second-last ones, took my breath away!
It is always such a treat for me to hear from you Halim! Everytime I do, I pop over to your blog to make sure I am not missing anything, which I am going to do now! Be well my friend~
Oh thank you! Cheers to you, my friend!
Thank you! I learned something new about a little known American species!
So did I in doing this post. Fascinating aren’t they, with such a long evolutionary history!
That pic of the almost smiling antelope is priceless. Also the mountain reflected in the lake is extremely well done.. More Moose More Moose!
Cracking up! I love a lover of mooses! 😉
Are you ear frostbite falls Montana.. Bullwinkles stomping grounds?
I actually just google mapped this. LMAO! I couldn’t find it in Montana, although google maps put me in Glacier, so I almost responded to you incorrectly. Quelle Horror! But then I was thinking about Bullwinkle and remembered he lives in Minnesota. So no, I was not near Frosbite Falls Minnesota! I am home at The Holler now btw, but I just enjoyed the heck out of this whole episode! 😉 😉 😉
They can certainly make silly faces. Gorgeous landscapes.
Yes! Who knew??? Not me! 😉 🙂
Love the history lesson! And they certainly Are beautiful!
They are! Their coloration and big lashy eyes are gorgeous!
Wonderful photos Cindy. I love Pronghorn!
I do too and I don’t get to see them very often.
Stunning photos Cindy, especially the Upper Green in Wyoming one. I’d love to see that area. And I learned a lot about pronghorns! Thanks.
Thank you! There will be a test on Tuesday! 😉 😉
I’ll probably flunk, but you make learning fun. 🙂
Can’t you imagine the test:
The pronghorn is not an antelope it is a:
A. Tiger
B. Pollywog
C. Antilocapra Americana
D. None of Above
E. A & B
These are the kinda classes, I took in college which is why I had such a high GPA!
Beautiful Pronghorn photos! They have a special place in my heart… Love all your photos – you have a great eye …
Well thank you! That is very thoughtful and much appreciated.
I love blogging, each and every day I learn more than I knew the day before and it’s thanx to amazing and informative blogs like this 🙂
I feel exactly the same way. Blogs provide my principal source of information now and I feel much better informed than I did when I read mass media. Plus blogs cover the depth and the breadth of the entire world. I love blogs and bloggers!
I know…. the saying that “The world is Your Oyster ” is very true in the blogging world 🙂
They say it (American) is more linked to cougar…very interesting reading about something I never knew about, including the fab Pronghorn. Love these type posts. Most good healthy animals will get away, predators need enough speed to get to the unhealthy, injured or young.
Very true about predators and about cougars. I so wish I could get a photo of a cougar, but it is highly unlikely. One walked down the street once where I used to live, but I wasn’t there. They do something like this occasionally, but sightings are very rare. Best chance is with a critter cam.
Like the leopards here…
They are so gorgeous and I was so lucky to see and photograph one!
Oh my! What a beautiful creature and at our doorstep. Photos are breathless.
Oh, you are very kind and glad you appreciate these beautiful and unique creatures. Cheers to you~
I love the bands around their necks. What absolutely gorgeous scenery! Thank you for sharing these beautiful shots.
Thank you more for appreciating them Laura! <3
😀
it’s wanderful
So happy you like them! They are remarkable. Cheers to you~ <3
Wow, impressive. They are so beautiful. Wonderful photographs.
They are little beauties aren’t they! So glad you like them and happy Saturday~
I had no idea Cindy! Such fantastic photos to go with your informative post.
Merci beaucoup mon ami!
Bonjour, quel magnifique pays, magnifique nature ! L”antilope d’Amérique ! le guépard !
Merci beaucoup! Vous etes tres gentil! <3
What a beautiful area and the pronghorn antelope is a beautiful animal with striking markings.
Isn’t he gorgeous and his home territory is too! Glad you enjoyed & cheers~
Fantastic photos of Not an Antelope. What a beautiful creature, and I so loved learning about them. Lovely post Cindy.
Awwwww, thank you for your thoughtfulness!
Reblogged this on Art, animals, and the earth.
Hugs and gratitude! <3
Sempre belli i tuoi articoli. Molto belle le foto
Lei e un amico molto gentile!
Dico solo la verità 🙂
I can’t believe how vivid and vibrant your photos. How close were you? Truly amazing. 🙂
They let you get kinda close because obviously, they can run away if they want! Thanks so much for your kindness Rebecca~ <3
Now these were very interesting facts for sure Cindy and it’s such a gorgeous animal! I am glad it is able to outrun the Cheetah. Such a beautiful animal shouldn’t be eaten. They are handsome indeed and you took the most amazing shots of it. I love those beautiful rings around the neck. Absolutely adorable! 😀
Wow! Those sights make me want to jump in and just go and sit by the lake. Hubby would definitely enjoy some flyfishing there for sure. Excellent captures Cindy! Thanks for sharing all this beauty. 😀
Thank you much more for your very kind appreciation & cheers to you my friend~
You are very welcome Cindy. 😀
Beautiful! How big are they?
They are smallish, a bit smaller than African Impalas, and definitely smaller then deer.
Thank you – I’d never heard of the before; they’re beautiful creatures.
They are delicate and gentle, but fast as lightening!
Es muy interesante lo que nos cuentas del berrendo. Yo desconocía que fuese tan rápido. Y, además, es un animal bonito y elegante. Las fotos nos muestran un lugar paradisíaco. 😉
Son increíbles animales verdad mi amiga? Tan contento que ellos y feliz Sabado gusta a tu! <3 <3
I loved the first pic most…. it is tooooo cute… <3
He is a darn cute critter, glad you like him!
Beautiful markings Cindy and the head reminds me a bit of an alpaca. Stunning scenery with just a tinge of autumn.
He is like a less furry alpaca. I think they may have walked over the Bering Strait and came originally from Asia back in the dawns of time.
That would be quite possible millions of years ago
Thanks for the beautiful photos and the fascinating information Cindy. I never would have guessed that that was the fastest animal we have.
It was news to me too!
I learn something new every day!! Thanks Cindy! Would you just look at those beautiful eyes!
I know the eyes and the lashes are pretty amazing!
It may be the second fastest animal but what pretty markings – beautiful!
Yes, a lovely gentle looking creature!
Cindy, these are wonderful photos of this handsome fellow and his gorgeous habitat 🙂 I’m assuming you used a pretty hefty zoom lens? Thanks for the lesson too. I love learning new things 🙂
These guys don’t require too much zoom, since they can run so fast, they let you get pretty close if you are quiet and slow. They always have a male guard and the flock just contentedly munches!
Spectacular!
Mil grazi!
That is amazing to know. I guess without the need for such speed, they will loose that over time. Nice pictures of them. They are cute.
Yes, I suppose they may de-volve! 😉
Looks like that one Antelope is saying: “Hey are taking my picture???” 🙂 I love the wonderful facts you include in your photographs! Beautiful animals!!! Hugz Lisa and Bear
They do have comical facial expressions don’t they!
Thanks for sharing the sweeping landscapes and precious wildlife.
Thank you more for appreciating both! <3
Again such stunning scenery ~ and you capture the heart of the antelope so well ~ you really do amaze me with some of the shots you are able to get. Brilliant 🙂
Honored, and touched. Thank you Randall.
Imagine the scenery they see on that 300 mile trek.:D
I think that is why they have such wide eyes!!! 😉
Those are some fantastic photos, Cindy!
Thank you! Very much appreciated.
What beautiful creatures! And thank you soooo much for both the photos and the interesting information. Wow, who knew?!
Not me, that’s for sure! I learn from writing and reading blogs everyday! 🙂
The pronghorns are delightfully charming!（★￣∀￣★）
I need to take a class from you! When are you teaching it?
Lesson 1: Highlight my emoticon, then copy and paste it. (￣▽￣)ノ
Oh, duh! Why didn’t I think of that. It seems like stealing, but since you told me how to do it……….Thank you! (￣▽￣)ノ