It's difficult to believe, but the klipspringer ("rock jumper" in Dutch), that is just about the height of a toddler, can jump on cylindrical hooves more than 25 feet (8 meters) across rocky terrain (this one in Kruger National Park in South Africa). But that's not all. Because they live in mountain ranges with sparse vegetation, they don't drink much water, but instead extract their liquids from morning dew and a plant-based diet. Klipspringers also mate for life, and their families stick close together on 5 to 10 acres. They are mostly nocturnal to keep them from being eaten by leopards, caracals and black eagles. But perhaps the most endearing trait is their sounds. They whistle (to alert danger), roar (when scared or stressed) and hum (to show affection).
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