pronking

Pronking is a locomotor display observed in some quadruped ungulates, most commonly in African antelope. It consists of a high vertical leap in which the animal arches its back and extends its legs during ascent and descent, landing on all four feet with the joints stiff. The movement often appears as a series of repeated, buoyant jumps performed in open grassland or savanna habitats.

Species in which pronking has been reported include springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii), and impala (Aepyceros melampus), among others. The behavior is typically most noticeable when predators are present or when animals are grazing in short vegetation, making the jumps easier to observe.

Function and purpose of pronking are debated. Proposed explanations include signaling fitness or health to potential predators or rivals (an honest signal), startling or confusing pursuing predators, or serving as a social display within groups. Some researchers suggest that multiple functions may operate depending on ecological context and species; there is no universal consensus.

Etymology and terminology: The term pronking derives from the Afrikaans word pronk, meaning to prance. In some zoological literature the same display is called stotting; researchers sometimes distinguish stotting as a high-bodied, stiff-legged jump and pronking as a more general term, but usage varies by author.