the pronghorn (, ) ("antilocapra americana") is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal indigenous to interior western and central north america. though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in north america as the american antelope, prong buck, pronghorn antelope, prairie antelope, or simply antelope because it closely resembles the true antelopes of the old world and fills a similar ecological niche due to parallel evolution.