Antelope: description of species

The rock of the antelope is a collective concept and implies a group of horned cloven-hoofed animals, which at the moment are classified according to the taxonomy in the Polar Ridge group of Cloven-hoofed animals. Previously, they were allocated to the subfamily, but after the genetic studies were carried out, they were combined. Tribe has nine species inhabiting Africa.

Nyala

The original name comes from local African Swahili. This species is often called flat. This is a vintner antelope weighing 55-125 kg and growing at the withers up to 110 cm. There is sexual dimorphism, males are larger than females, differ in coat color. The first have a gray tint and screwed-in horns with white tips, as well as a standing mane. Young individuals and females are hornless, their color is reddish-brown. All the nyali on the sides have up to 18 white vertical thin strips. Males lead a single way of life, and females and cubs form small herds. Habitat - Mozambique, Zimbabwe, northeast of South Africa.

Mountain Nyala

It is living at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level vintorogo antelope. The description of appearance in many ways is similar to the previous view. However, they are larger, the average height at the withers is 150-180 cm, and the weight is 150-300 kg. Males and females are externally similar, but the latter do not have horns and are much smaller in size. It is an endemic species of the Great Rift Valley and the Ethiopian Highlands, which has the status of an endangered one. At the moment the population totals 7-8 thousand individuals.

Sitatunga

This is a fairly large antelope, which reaches a height of 1 m in the withers and weighs 125 kg. The females have a rusty hue, and the males are black-brown. On the trunk are visible transverse white bands of varying severity. On the underside of the neck, characteristic semilunar spots are seen. The coat is thick and long. Males have horns longer than 90 cm. The main sign of sitatunga is widely spaced and elongated hoofs that are adapted for movement through marshland.

Bushbok

Large animals, the height at the withers from 75 to 110 cm - this is a type of wine. Description of the breed should start with the fact that this species is very common throughout Africa. In this regard, the color of the coat varies greatly from light brown to dark with a red tint, various kinds of light spots and numerous strips throughout the body. Males have impressive curved horns, reaching a length of 50 cm, as well as a mane along the entire length of the spine, which can be demonstrated by lifting the hair on end. They prefer to live in shrubs and forests near water bodies. The way of life is single, less often in pairs.

Great Kudu

This is a vintner antelope, which can be confused with Nyala. Wool is light brown in males with a noticeable gray tinge. On the sides there are, as a rule, 6 to 10 white strips. They have large round ears and an elongated tail. Males at the withers reach 1.40 m, have a weight of up to 250 kg and large horns up to 1 m in length. The species is widespread everywhere. Female and young live in groups of up to 10 individuals, males - separately or also a small herd.

Small kudu

From the previous, this form is distinguished by its dimensions. Males grow at the withers up to 1 m, weight up to 100 kg, as well as swirling horns up to 75 cm long. Females are much smaller, but the color is the same: brown-brown wool with 15 thin light strips. In contrast to the large kudu, this species is less common and has a limited habitat.

Bongo

Medium-sized antelope, whose photo shows us a pretty pretty animal, grows to 100-130 cm at the withers, weighs up to 200 kg. Horns in males in the form of a weakly expressed spiral, more than one meter long. Color of the coat is bright, chestnut-red with white markings on the legs, chest and stripes on the sides. On the throat there is a suspension of hair and a short mane along the spine. Animals are subject to seasonal migration. Female and young form groups, males live singly.

Cannes

This is the genus of the largest antelopes, which includes two species. The height at the withers is 1.8 m, and the length of the body is 3.5 m. All individuals weigh from 400 to 1000 kg. Their constitution is strong and massive, the limbs are slender, the tail is long, compared to other species. The antelope has a characteristic skin fold from the throat to the chest. From each other, two species differ in color. Kanna is a gray-brown, and the western variety is red-brown. Males and females have spirally twisted horns.