Nyala (antelope)
| Nyala | ||||||||||||
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Nyala bull |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Nyala | ||||||||||||
| Heller , 1912 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Nyala angasii | ||||||||||||
| ( Angas , 1849) |
The nyala ( Nyala angasii , syn .: Tragelaphus angasii ) is a Southeast African antelope from the group of the forest goats . To distinguish it from the mountain nyala , it is sometimes referred to as lowland nyala or lowland nyala . The name Nyala comes from Swahili .
The nyala has long been considered one of the rarest antelope species. Strict protective measures have helped the populations recover. Nevertheless, the nyala is one of the still very little researched horn-carriers.
Appearance
This antelope species reaches a head body length of 140 cm and a shoulder height of 110 cm. The weight is 55 to 125 kg, with males being significantly larger and heavier than females.
Females and males can mainly be distinguished by their body color: While the much larger males are colored slate gray and have horns twisted like a screw with a white tip, the females, like young animals, are hornless and predominantly reddish-brown in color. All animals have up to 18 narrow, white horizontal stripes. The males have both a long, erectile mane that covers the backbone and a belly mane hanging from the throat to the hind legs. This characteristic distinguishes it from most other antelope species. The bushy tail is white on the underside in both sexes.
distribution
Nyalas are common in Mozambique , Zimbabwe, and the far northeast of South Africa. They were also introduced into national parks in Botswana and South Africa, where they were not originally native. They prefer to live in dense shrubbery near water. The occurrence is known in the nature reserves Hluhluwe / Umfolozi , Mkuzi , Ndumo and Kruger Park . In recent years, a population has also been resettled in Isimangaliso Park.
Way of life
While females and young animals form small herds, the males are loners. The nyalas feed primarily on leaves, but grasses are also occasionally eaten. The nyala's predators include the leopard , but this has no significant impact on the population of this species.
Reproduction
After a gestation period of a good seven months, the female gives birth to a young. The maximum age of the lowland nyalas is around 16 years.
literature
- CA Spinage: The Natural History of Antelopes. Croom Helm, London 1986, ISBN 0-7099-4441-1 .
Web links
- Tragelaphus angasii inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2013.