Sonoran Pronghorn
Antilocapra Americana
Known as "prairie ghosts" because they are so elusive, the Sonoran pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America. Smaller and lighter in color than other pronghorn subspecies, it is uniquely adapted for survival in harsh arid conditions. Sonoran pronghorns are reddish brown on their backs and sides and have lighter colored undersides. They have bright white markings on their heads and necks; males have black faces and black patches on the sides of their necks. Males sport large black pronged horns, while females have short black horns.
Height About 3 feet at shoulders
Length 4.3-4.8 feet (head to
tail)
Weight 100-130 lbs (males); 75-100 lbs (females)
Top speed Up to 60 miles per hour
Lifespan 10-12 years
Diet
Herbs, cacti, and desert grasses
Population
Approximately 100 Sonoran pronghorn remain in the wild in the United States. There is also a small population held in a captive breeding program on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Arizona. There are approximately 650 pronghorn in Mexico.
Range
Historically, Sonoran pronghorn traveled across vast expanses of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, California, and Sonora, Mexico. Currently it is confined to fragments of its former range, with only three small populations remaining – one in southwest Arizona, and two separate populations in Mexico.
Behavior
Sonoran pronghorn have evolved in unique ways to adapt to the harsh desert environment. For example, it can erect its stiff bristle-like body hair in patches to release body heat in extremely hot weather. The pronghorn’s exceptional speed and excellent vision help it to avoid predators and take advantage of scarce desert forage.
Reproduction
Mating Season September and October
Gestation 250
days.
Litter size 1 fawn; twins when there is abundant food
Does
are ready to mate at 16 months and bucks are ready by one year of age.
Threats
There are many threats to the survival and recovery of the Sonoran
pronghorn, including undocumented human migration and escalating border security
activities on the US-Mexico border in Arizona.
Other threats include
livestock grazing, construction of roads, fences and other barriers that
fragment habitat and off-road vehicle use in important habitat.
Legal Status/Protection
The pronghorn has been listed as endangered under the *Endangered Species Act since 1967.
* The Endangered Species Act requires the U.S. federal government to identify species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and help protect both. In doing so, the Act works to ensure the basic health of our natural ecosystems and protect the legacy of conservation we leave to our children and grandchildren.
How You Can Help
- Help Sonoran Pronghorns and other wildlife by adopting an animal at our Wildlife Adoption Center.
- Take Action for Wildlife at our Wildlife Action Center.
