Four-horned Antelope
Encyclopedia
The Four-horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), or Chousingha, is a small antelope
found in open forest in India
and Nepal
. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Tetracerus.
The most distinctive feature of the animal is the presence of four horns; a feature unique among wild mammals. Only the males grow horns, usually with two between the ears and a second pair further forward on the forehead. The first pair of horns appear at just a few months of age, and the second pair generally grow after 10 to 14 months. The horns are never shed, although they may be damaged during fights. Not all adult males have horns, in some individuals, especially those belonging to the subspecies T. q. subquadricornis, the forward pair of horns are absent or represented only by small hairless bumps. The hind pair of horns reaches 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 ) in length, while the forward pair are usually smaller, at just 2 to 5 cm (0.78740157480315 to 2 ).
, with small isolated populations in Nepal
. Their range extends south of the Gangetic plains down to the state of Tamilnadu, and east as far as Orissa
. They also occur in the Gir Forest National Park
of western India.
Four-horned antelopes live in a variety of habitats across their range, but prefer open dry deciduous forests in hilly terrain. They tend to remain in areas with significant vegetation cover from tall grasses or heavy undergrowth, and close to a supply of water. They generally stay away from human-inhabited areas. Predators of four-horned antelopes include tiger
s, leopard
s, and dhole
s.
There are currently three recognised subspecies of four-horned antelope:
. Males tend to become very aggressive towards other males during mating season. Adults make alarm calls that sound like a husky 'phronk', and other, quieter calls to communicate with young or other adults. They also communicate through scent marking, leaving piles of droppings in their territory, and marking vegetation using large scent glands in front of the eyes.
They are herbivorous, feeding on soft leaves, fruits, and flowers. Although the precise details of their diet in the wild are unknown, they have been observed to prefer plants such as Indian plum
, Indian gooseberry, Bauhinia
, and Acacia
in artificial trials.
The breeding season lasts from May to July, and males and females generally remain apart for the remainder of the year. Courtship behaviour consists of the male and female kneeling and pushing at each other with inter-twined necks, followed by ritual strutting by the male. Gestation
lasts about eight months, and results in the birth of one or two young. At birth, the young are 42 to 46 cm (16.5 to 18.1 ) long, and weigh 0.74 to 1.1 kg (1.6 to 2.4 ). Young remain with the mother for about a year, and reach sexual maturity at around 2 years.
, with its closest living relative being the nilgai
. This group originated at least 8.9 million years ago, in much the same area that the four-horned antelope lives today, and may represent the most "primitive" of all living bovids, having changed the least since the origins of the family.
. It has been estimated that only around 10,000 four-horned antelopes remain alive in the wild, although many of these are in protected animal conservation areas. The species is protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and the Nepalese population is listed in Appendix III of CITES. The four-horned antelope is considered vulnerable
by the IUCN, primarily due to increasing habitat loss.
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
found in open forest in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Tetracerus.
Description
Four-horned Antelope are among the smallest Asian bovids, standing just 55 to 64 cm (21.7 to 25.2 ) tall at the shoulder, and weighing 17 to 22 kg (37.5 to 48.5 ). They have a generally slender build, with thin legs and a short tail. They have a yellow-brown or reddish coat, fading to whitish colour on the underparts and the insides of the legs. A black stripe of hair runs down the anterior surface of each leg, and there are also black patches on the muzzle and the backs of the ears. Females have four teats, located far back on the abdomen.The most distinctive feature of the animal is the presence of four horns; a feature unique among wild mammals. Only the males grow horns, usually with two between the ears and a second pair further forward on the forehead. The first pair of horns appear at just a few months of age, and the second pair generally grow after 10 to 14 months. The horns are never shed, although they may be damaged during fights. Not all adult males have horns, in some individuals, especially those belonging to the subspecies T. q. subquadricornis, the forward pair of horns are absent or represented only by small hairless bumps. The hind pair of horns reaches 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 ) in length, while the forward pair are usually smaller, at just 2 to 5 cm (0.78740157480315 to 2 ).
Distribution and habitat
Most wild four-horned antelopes are found in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, with small isolated populations in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Their range extends south of the Gangetic plains down to the state of Tamilnadu, and east as far as Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. They also occur in the Gir Forest National Park
Gir Forest National Park
The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, India...
of western India.
Four-horned antelopes live in a variety of habitats across their range, but prefer open dry deciduous forests in hilly terrain. They tend to remain in areas with significant vegetation cover from tall grasses or heavy undergrowth, and close to a supply of water. They generally stay away from human-inhabited areas. Predators of four-horned antelopes include tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
s, leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s, and dhole
Dhole
The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
s.
There are currently three recognised subspecies of four-horned antelope:
- Tetraceros quadricornis quadricornis
- Tetraceros quadricornis iodes
- Tetraceros quadricornis subquadricornis
Behaviour
Four-horned antelopes are generally solitary animals, although they are occasionally found in groups of up to four individuals. They are sedentary, rather than nomadic, and may defend exclusive territoriesTerritory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
. Males tend to become very aggressive towards other males during mating season. Adults make alarm calls that sound like a husky 'phronk', and other, quieter calls to communicate with young or other adults. They also communicate through scent marking, leaving piles of droppings in their territory, and marking vegetation using large scent glands in front of the eyes.
They are herbivorous, feeding on soft leaves, fruits, and flowers. Although the precise details of their diet in the wild are unknown, they have been observed to prefer plants such as Indian plum
Ziziphus mauritiana
Ziziphus mauritiana, also known as Jujube, Chinee Apple, Indian plum, and permseret , is a tropical fruit tree species belonging to the family Rhamnaceae....
, Indian gooseberry, Bauhinia
Bauhinia
Bauhinia is a genus of more than 200 species of flowering plants in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the large flowering plant family Fabaceae, with a pantropical distribution. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers, Swiss-French botanists....
, and Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
in artificial trials.
Reproduction
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
lasts about eight months, and results in the birth of one or two young. At birth, the young are 42 to 46 cm (16.5 to 18.1 ) long, and weigh 0.74 to 1.1 kg (1.6 to 2.4 ). Young remain with the mother for about a year, and reach sexual maturity at around 2 years.
Evolution
The four-horned antelope is currently regarded as the only species in the genus Tetracerus. Both genetic and morphological studies, however, confirm it as one of only two living members of the tribe BoselaphiniBoselaphini
Boselaphini is a tribe of antelopes belonging to the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. It contains only two extant genera.-Description:...
, with its closest living relative being the nilgai
Nilgai
The nilgai , sometimes called nilgau, is an antelope, and is one of the most commonly seen wild animals of central and northern India and eastern Pakistan; it is also present in parts of southern Nepal. The mature males appear ox-like and are also known as blue bulls...
. This group originated at least 8.9 million years ago, in much the same area that the four-horned antelope lives today, and may represent the most "primitive" of all living bovids, having changed the least since the origins of the family.
Conservation
Living in a densely populated part of the world, the four-horned antelope is threatened by loss of its natural habitat to agricultural land. In addition, the unusual four-horned skull has been a popular target for trophy huntersTrophy hunting
Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild game animals. Although parts of the slain animal may be kept as a hunting trophy or memorial , the carcass itself is sometimes used as food....
. It has been estimated that only around 10,000 four-horned antelopes remain alive in the wild, although many of these are in protected animal conservation areas. The species is protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and the Nepalese population is listed in Appendix III of CITES. The four-horned antelope is considered vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
by the IUCN, primarily due to increasing habitat loss.