Lyre antelope
As Topi or crescent antelope (originally Damaliscus lunatus ) is a complex of species of various African antelopes from the group of hartebeest referred. The species inhabit almost all savannah areas in sub-Saharan Africa, but today they are limited to protected areas in many places. Some species are not considered threatened, the stock of the corrigum ( Damaliscus correctum ) is endangered, that of the coastal topi ( Damaliscus topi ) is classified as potentially endangered
features
The top of the coat is dark red-brown with a purple sheen, the legs are darker, as are the shoulders and the head. The shoulder height is about 120 cm, the weight about 130 kg. Ringed horns are worn by both sexes. The two horns have a common base and give the impression of a lyre or a crescent moon lying on its "back"; hence the name of this antelope comes from.
Way of life
As grazers, lyre antelopes prefer the open savannah , especially alluvial plains. However, the animals can reach speeds of 70 km / h on the run. They make characteristic, violently nodding head movements.
Lyre antelopes live in small herds, which consist of a dominant male and an average of eight females and associated young animals. The young males are kicked out of the herd around a year old, while young females mostly stay. In the first years of life, young males form bachelor associations, which dissolve as soon as the males are four years old and thus old enough to lead a herd of their own. The dominant males defend their herd against intruders; mostly threatening gestures are enough to decide the rivalry between two males; but in rare cases there is serious fighting using the horns. Males who are driven from their herd in the process end their lives as solitary animals.
Distribution area
Lyra antelopes were once widespread in the savannahs, especially in alluvial plains, in sub-Saharan Africa and were among the most common antelope species in Africa. Today, in many places, they are linked to residual areas and mostly only occur in national parks and protected areas. In some countries, such as Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, Gamibia and Burundi, the stocks are completely extinct.
Systematics
Originally the lyre antelope was considered an independent species and was carried under the scientific name Damaliscus lunatus . In 2003 it was recognized for the first time that it was a matter of different species and, with the Bangweulu-Sassaby ( Damaliscus superstes ), one species was separated, with the indication that the remaining subspecies would also have to be reassessed. In the course of a revision of the hornbeams in 2011, these were also shifted to species status. Today, a distinction is made between the following types:
- Corrigum ( Damaliscus correctum ( Ogilby , 1834)); western africa. Originally from southern Mauritania and Senegal to western Chad. Exterminated in most areas today. Almost all stocks now live in protected areas, especially in the W - Arly - Pendjari National Park complex in Burkina Faso, Niger and Benin, as well as in the Waza National Park and the Bénoué National Park in northern Cameroon. The total population of this form is around 1,850 to 2,650 animals. The species is classified as endangered ( Vulnerable ) by the IUCN .
- Tiang ( Damaliscus tiang ( Heuglin , 1863)); is similar to the corrigum. Once found in southern Chad, in the north of the Central African Republic, and across southern Sudan to south-west Ethiopia and into north-western Kenya. The populations are still relatively high and should include 50,000 to 150,000 animals. In some areas, such as Boma National Park, the population seems to be declining. The tiang occurs locally in protected areas. The largest Central African population occurs in the Zakouma National Park . The exact number in Dinder National Park is not known, but should only include a few animals. Stocks also exist in the Salamat Conservation Area, Manovo-Gounda-St Floris National Park , Omo National Park , Mago National Park and Sibiloi National Park in Kenya.
- Serengeti topi ( Damaliscus jimela ( Matschie , 1892)); East African savannas in the Great Lakes region. Originally distributed in south-west Kenya, north-west and west Tanzania, east and south-west Uganda, north-east Rwanda and in the eastern alluvial plains of Burundi. In Burundi, however, the lyre antelope is now extinct. The vast majority of the populations live in protected areas, especially in the Virunga National Park (DRC), in the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda), and in the Serengeti - Mara protected area complex (Kenya, Tanzania). In some areas, stocks have been declining in the recent past. In total there should still be around 100,000 animals of this type.
- Coastal topi ( Damaliscus topi Blaine , 1914); Coastal area of Northern Kenya and Somalia. The species is considered to be Near Threatened .
- Sassaby ( Damaliscus lunatus ( Burchell , 1824)); southern africa. The form occurs in part in large, well-protected national parks such as the Moremi Game Reserve , Chobe National Park and Kruger National Park . Nevertheless, the number in the Kruger Park fell in 1996 to only 220 animals. A total of over 30,000 specimens of this species live mainly in protected areas and on private land. The trend is increasing.
- Bangweulu-Sassaby ( Damaliscus superstes Cotterill , 2003); inhabits the Bangweulu plain in northern Zambia . Described as a separate species in 2003. Originally, the shape also appeared in adjacent parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
Wilson & Reeder (2005), however, divided the lyre antelope into three species. Firstly, Damaliscus lunatus , which only refers to the southern form (Sassaby), secondly, Damaliscus superstes in the Bangweulu plain and thirdly, Damaliscus correctum , which includes the northern species (Topi, Korrigum, Jimela - Tiang is not recognized).
The hunter antelope , in the past also occasionally seen as a subspecies of the lyre antelope, is now considered an independent species (or even genus).
literature
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g Damaliscus lunatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2008. Retrieved on 25 August 2011.
- ↑ Jonathan Kingdon: The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals . A&C Black Publishers, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6513-0 .
- ↑ Fenton PD Cotterill: Insights into the taxonomy of tsessebe antelopes Damaliscus lunatus (Bovidae: Alcelaphini) with the description of a new evolutionary species in south-central Africa. In: Durban Museum Novitates. 28, 2003, pp. 11-30.
- ↑ Colin P. Groves , David M. Leslie Jr .: Family Bovidae (Hollow-horned Ruminants). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2: Hooved Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2011, ISBN 978-84-96553-77-4 , pp. 701-704.
- ↑ Damaliscus lunatus ssp. korrigum in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2008. Accessed August 26, 2011th
- ↑ Damaliscus lunatus ssp. topi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2008. Accessed August 26, 2011th
