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Description
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are amazing animals, and they're some of my favorite. They're often referred to as antelope, but in fact they evolved separately and are placed in their own family, Antilocapridae (which I think means goat-antelope, haha). Their closest living relative is actually the giraffe. They're the fastest land animal in North America and the second fastest in the world after the cheetah.

Why does North America have such a speedy animal? Well, they're the vestige of an evolutionary arms race between them and Miracinonyx, which is commonly referred to as the American cheetah. It is not a cheetah, but did possess incredibly similar traits. Like the cheetah, one species even had claws that were only partially retractable.

So yes, the Old, Old West had not-antelopes running from not-cheetahs. How cool is that?

Description
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are amazing animals, and they're some of my favorite. They're often referred to as antelope, but in fact they evolved separately and are placed in their own family, Antilocapridae (which I think means goat-antelope, haha). Their closest living relative is actually the giraffe. They're the fastest land animal in North America and the second fastest in the world after the cheetah.

Why does North America have such a speedy animal? Well, they're the vestige of an evolutionary arms race between them and Miracinonyx, which is commonly referred to as the American cheetah. It is not a cheetah, but did possess incredibly similar traits. Like the cheetah, one species even had claws that were only partially retractable.

So yes, the Old, Old West had not-antelopes running from not-cheetahs. How cool is that?