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Klipspringer

Oreotragus oreotragus

A small, sure-footed African antelope that hops from rock to rock on tiny hooves the size of a dime.

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About the Klipspringer

Klipspringers stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 22 to 40 pounds. Their stiff, hollow hairs give them a grizzled look and protect them from heat. Each hoof is about the size of a dime and works a little like a suction cup, so a klipspringer can jump onto a landing spot the size of a silver dollar. They live among rocky hills called kopjes and eat leaves, blossoms, fruit and lichen.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Oreotragus oreotragus[1]
Size
About 2 feet tall at the shoulder.[1]
Weight
22 to 40 pounds.[1]
Diet
Herbivore. Leaves, blossoms, fruit and lichen.[1]
Habitat
Rocky hills, kopjes, riverbeds and mountains up to 13,000 feet.[1]
Where it lives
Africa.[1]
Group life
Monogamous pairs or small family groups.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]

Fun facts

  • A klipspringer's hoof is about the size of a dime.[1]
  • Klipspringer partners take turns eating and keeping watch.[1]
  • Their hollow hairs help keep them cool.[1]

Vocabulary

kopje
A rocky hill that rises out of the flat African grassland (say "KOP-ee").
antelope
A fast, hoofed, horned animal related to cattle and goats.
sentinel
An animal that keeps watch for danger while others eat or rest.
browse
Leaves and twigs that animals eat from bushes and trees.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Klipspringer.” https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/klipspringer (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Oreotragus oreotragus (Klipspringer).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15485/50191264 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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