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Why is the North American pronghorn not a true antelope?
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bovid
American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison).
The North American pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is not a true antelope because it belongs to an entirely different biological family, the Antilocapridae, whereas all true antelopes are members of the family Bovidae.123
While both animals are hoofed ruminants in the order Artiodactyla, they possess distinct physical differences that set them apart:
- Horns: This is the most significant distinction. Pronghorns have unique, branching horns that consist of a hollow sheath over a bony core; the sheaths are shed and regrown annually. In contrast, true antelopes have unbranched horns that are never shed and remain with the animal throughout its life.1452
- Taxonomy: True antelopes are part of the same family as cattle, sheep, and goats, whereas the pronghorn is the sole living member of its own family.142
The common name "American antelope" is a misnomer that often leads to confusion regarding its true evolutionary relationship.13