![Picture](/uploads/1/0/5/5/10551590/published/antilocapra-americana-2.jpg?1564963075)
In late October, 1845, during his third expedition, John C. Fremont visited what he named Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. Two years earlier, during his second expedition, Fremont had visited what he called “Disappointment Island” (later re-named Fremont Island) by boat. This time, he and some of his companions, including Kit Carson, rode their horsed through the shallow water across the sandbar to Antelope Island, where they stayed for two days. While there, Fremont’s group killed a few Pronghorn, the “antelope” after which he named the island.
Despite Fremont’s moniker, the Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is not an antelope (which are members of the Family Bovidae), but rather the last remaining member of a nearly extinct family of even-toed ungulates, the Antilocapridae. Both male and female Pronghorns have horns, comprised of a permanent bony core covered with a sheath of compressed hairlike material that is shed annually. The forward pointing “prong” on the males’ horn gives the species its common name.
These fleet animals can run at speeds nearing 60 miles per hour in a quick spring, with sustained speeds of 30-45 miles per hour, making them the second fasted land animal (after the Cheetah). It is thought by some researchers that their extreme speed is a legacy trait, from when there were numerous fast predators in North America. Pronghorns have excellent eyesight, but are known to be curious (a trait that has assisted hunters). They also demure from jumping over fences, despite an ability to bound if pressed.
Pronghorns are striking creatures with their reddish-brown, black and white patterns, traveling in herds or grazing alone. On Antelope Island, in the Great Salt Lake, the Pronghorn wander around with few cares, passing their time in the presence of Bison, Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep, as well as coyotes, bobcats and tourists. Forgiving some liberties with scientific naming conventions, Antelope Island is the place where “buffalo” roam, and the deer and the “antelope” play.
Despite Fremont’s moniker, the Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is not an antelope (which are members of the Family Bovidae), but rather the last remaining member of a nearly extinct family of even-toed ungulates, the Antilocapridae. Both male and female Pronghorns have horns, comprised of a permanent bony core covered with a sheath of compressed hairlike material that is shed annually. The forward pointing “prong” on the males’ horn gives the species its common name.
These fleet animals can run at speeds nearing 60 miles per hour in a quick spring, with sustained speeds of 30-45 miles per hour, making them the second fasted land animal (after the Cheetah). It is thought by some researchers that their extreme speed is a legacy trait, from when there were numerous fast predators in North America. Pronghorns have excellent eyesight, but are known to be curious (a trait that has assisted hunters). They also demure from jumping over fences, despite an ability to bound if pressed.
Pronghorns are striking creatures with their reddish-brown, black and white patterns, traveling in herds or grazing alone. On Antelope Island, in the Great Salt Lake, the Pronghorn wander around with few cares, passing their time in the presence of Bison, Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep, as well as coyotes, bobcats and tourists. Forgiving some liberties with scientific naming conventions, Antelope Island is the place where “buffalo” roam, and the deer and the “antelope” play.
Additional information on Pronghorn, Antelope Island, and John C. Fremont’s expeditions:
Books:
The Mammals of Texas. By William B. Davis and David J. Schmidly. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, 1994.
Animal Skulls: A Guide to North American Species. By Mark Elbroch. Stackpole Books, 2006.
Memoirs of My Life. By John Charles Fremont. 1887. [https://archive.org/details/memoirsofmylife00fr/page/n8]
Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842, and to Oregon and north California in the years 1843-44. By John C. Fremont. [https://archive.org/details/reportoftheexplor1845eng]
Built for Speed: A Year in the Life of Pronghorn. By John A. Byers. Harvard University Press, 2003.
Websites:
Pronghorn - Antilocapra americana. NatureWorks, New Hampshire PBS. [https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/pronghorn.htm]
Where the Deer and Giraffoids Play. National Geographic. [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/01/06/where-the-deer-and-giraffoids-play/]
Pronghorn. National Wildlife Federation. [https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/mammals/pronghorn]
Pronghorn. Canadian Museum of Nature. [https://nature.ca/notebooks/english/prongant.htm]
Pronghorn Photo Ark. National Geographic. [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/p/pronghorn/]
Take a Close-Up Look at one of the World’s Fastest Animals and Wyoming Icon. Barnyards and Backyards. [http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/documents/magazine/2017/winter/0117antelope.pdf]
Pronghorn's Speed May Be Legacy of Past Predators. Carol Kaesuk Soon, New York Times, December 1996. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/24/science/pronghorn-s-speed-may-be-legacy-of-past-predators.html]
Prehistoric Pronghorn: Ancient Antelope. Arizona Museum of Natural History. [https://arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/exhibitions/previous-exhibitions/prehistoric-pronghorn-ancient-antelope]
Antelope Island State Park brochure. [https://site.utah.gov/stateparks/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/06/AISP_Brochure_2017_print.pdf]
How Antelope Island got its Name. Utah Humanities. [https://www.utahhumanities.org/stories/items/show/171]
A Brief History of Antelope Island. Intermountain Histories. [https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/297]
Antelope Island: Chronology. Deseret News. [https://www.deseretnews.com/article/749628/Antelope-Island--Chronology.html]
Antelope Island History. Utah State Parks. [http://static.stateparks.utah.gov/docs/AISPEdPacketHistory.pdf]
John Charles Fremont. Georgia Historical Society. [https://georgiahistory.com/education-outreach/online-exhibits/featured-historical-figures/john-charles-fremont/]
John C. Freemont's Expeditions into Utah: An Historical Analysis of the Explorer's Contributions and Significance to the Region. Alexander L. Baugh. [https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5510&context=etd]
Books:
The Mammals of Texas. By William B. Davis and David J. Schmidly. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, 1994.
Animal Skulls: A Guide to North American Species. By Mark Elbroch. Stackpole Books, 2006.
Memoirs of My Life. By John Charles Fremont. 1887. [https://archive.org/details/memoirsofmylife00fr/page/n8]
Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842, and to Oregon and north California in the years 1843-44. By John C. Fremont. [https://archive.org/details/reportoftheexplor1845eng]
Built for Speed: A Year in the Life of Pronghorn. By John A. Byers. Harvard University Press, 2003.
Websites:
Pronghorn - Antilocapra americana. NatureWorks, New Hampshire PBS. [https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/pronghorn.htm]
Where the Deer and Giraffoids Play. National Geographic. [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/01/06/where-the-deer-and-giraffoids-play/]
Pronghorn. National Wildlife Federation. [https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/mammals/pronghorn]
Pronghorn. Canadian Museum of Nature. [https://nature.ca/notebooks/english/prongant.htm]
Pronghorn Photo Ark. National Geographic. [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/p/pronghorn/]
Take a Close-Up Look at one of the World’s Fastest Animals and Wyoming Icon. Barnyards and Backyards. [http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/documents/magazine/2017/winter/0117antelope.pdf]
Pronghorn's Speed May Be Legacy of Past Predators. Carol Kaesuk Soon, New York Times, December 1996. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/24/science/pronghorn-s-speed-may-be-legacy-of-past-predators.html]
Prehistoric Pronghorn: Ancient Antelope. Arizona Museum of Natural History. [https://arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/exhibitions/previous-exhibitions/prehistoric-pronghorn-ancient-antelope]
Antelope Island State Park brochure. [https://site.utah.gov/stateparks/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/06/AISP_Brochure_2017_print.pdf]
How Antelope Island got its Name. Utah Humanities. [https://www.utahhumanities.org/stories/items/show/171]
A Brief History of Antelope Island. Intermountain Histories. [https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/297]
Antelope Island: Chronology. Deseret News. [https://www.deseretnews.com/article/749628/Antelope-Island--Chronology.html]
Antelope Island History. Utah State Parks. [http://static.stateparks.utah.gov/docs/AISPEdPacketHistory.pdf]
John Charles Fremont. Georgia Historical Society. [https://georgiahistory.com/education-outreach/online-exhibits/featured-historical-figures/john-charles-fremont/]
John C. Freemont's Expeditions into Utah: An Historical Analysis of the Explorer's Contributions and Significance to the Region. Alexander L. Baugh. [https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5510&context=etd]