Prong ox (SciiFii)

The prong-ox (Antilocapra giganteus or Gigantilocapra giganteus) is the species of pronghorn that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, scrublands, deserts, and taiga habitats across North America to help boost biodiversity. The prong-ox is the largest species of pronghorn antelope and is also the heaviest species; it reaches weights of 700-1,000 pounds. Males, known as jims, tend to be larger than females, known as janes. The horns of a prong-ox jim can reach 2-3 feet in length, and the horns of the prong-ox are black in color and compose of a permanent, bony interior knob covered by a keratinous sheath, which is shed annually like deer antlers are. The horns are Lyre-shaped, which curve back and slightly inward near the conical tips, each with one broad, short prong that juts forward and slightly upward, usually halfway from the base of the horn. They are used in male competitions during the rut, with jims using thrusts and counter-thrusts to try to gore their opponents. Like other pronghorn species, they have excellent, binocular-like eyesight, and can spot movements from as far away as 5 miles in broaddaylight. However, they have difficulty in seeing stationary things, and their sight-distance is greatly reduced in the pitch-black of nighttime. The prong-ox has a brown colored coat when fully grown. The prong-ox is similar in build and physiology to the eland antelopes of Africa, and occupies a similar niche to the elands. The prong-ox mainly feeds on leaves, shrubs, grasses, forbs, and sedges. Prong-oxen can go without drinking water for over three days, allowing them to fair well in most North American desert regions. Prong-ox are generally peaceful herbivores, and will feed alongside creatures like horses, bison, capybaras, elk, camels, peccaries, deer, and elephants, and among other herbivores. Prong-ox enter the rut in the Fall, when jims form harems and fight challengers. After a 6 month gestation, janes give birth to calves. after birth, calves can run with their parents within 2 hours. Calves are weened at 5 months of age. At the age of 3 years, the calves set out on their own. Prong-ox can live as long as 25 years in the wild. Their main predator is the American lion, followed by the dire wolf, scimitar cat, and saber-tooth cat, with fawns being prey for jaguars, grizzlies, cougars, and short-faced bears. During calving season, newborns are at risk to predation from coyotes, bears, American cheetahs, red wolves, eagles, and grey wolves. There are documented cases of alligators killing prong-oxen. Like other pronghorns, prong-oxen are fast sprinters; this massive antelope can reach speeds of 50 mph, more than enough needed to outrun their predators, who often employ nocturnal ambush tactics to catch the prong-ox. The conservation status of the prong-oxen is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the prong-oxen's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii