Nyala animal. — The graceful nyala antelopeThe graceful nyala antelope inhabiting the savannahs of Southeast Africa is a pu

graceful antelope nyala

graceful nyala antelope, inhabiting the savannahs of Southeast Africa, is a shy animal that lives under cover of trees and in thickets of bushes.

Animal Features

Horns: Dark brown or black with ivory tips. Head: both sexes have large ears, so animals have very keen hearing and hear the sounds of an enemy that is approaching. Males have bright white spots between the eyes. Male: darker than female. The coat is brown with a grayish coating. Body divided by 14 narrow vertical stripes white color. The head, neck and shoulders of the male are covered with a mane, which stands on end during a collision with an opponent. Female: smaller than male, hairline light red, white dots and transverse stripes on the sides. A short black mane runs along the back. When threatened, it emits a piercing, staccato cry. The female gives birth to one, less often two babies. For some time they lie, hiding in dense thickets. The mother visits to feed her offspring, and disappears again. When the kids grow up, they begin to follow their mother..jpg ">

Nyala is a small antelope, about the size of a lesser kudu. Its slightly twisted horns reach 80 cm in length. Nyala is found in the vast flat savannas. Appearing in open areas, the antelope is in danger of becoming a victim of a lion or leopard. When forced to move across open areas, such as when roaming in search of water or food, the nyala gather in large herds. Thanks to this, ungulates notice the approach of a predator faster. The herd of antelopes lives on an area of ​​0.5 to 3.5 km2 and has up to 30 animals. A mixed or bachelor herd is always led by one male leader. The leader of the family group is an adult female. Fights between males rarely end in the death of animals, however, arguing over a female, they often beat the opponent with their front legs and horns. The hair on the back of the males stands on end, while the animals nervously run back and forth with fluffy tails raised up. Enraged opponents rush at each other, bowing their heads, horns towards the opponent. The herd does not protect its territory, however, lone males often mark their possessions, leaving on the bushes the secretion of odorous glands located on the muzzle of animals. Chasing away strangers, males knock their horns on the ground. Nyala coexist well with antelopes of other species.

Nyalu grazes from early evening until morning. To do this, the animal go to open areas. Later hides in a hiding place, in the thick of the bushes. The antelope feeds on leaves, branches, grass, fruits of wild and some cultivated plants. The animal likes the leaves of many types of trees and bushes, among them are the leaves of acacia, mustard tree, salvador and medicinal borage. It also consumes the bark of baobabs. Nyalu eats everything she can reach: she grabs a part of the plant with her tongue and then plucks it with her lower teeth. During the period of grass growth, the antelope plucks young shoots not with teeth, but with lips. During a drought, the animal feeds on dry leaves.

The number of the species is quite stable throughout the range, despite the irrational use of its habitats by humans.

The appearance of the nyala (T. angasi), the third representative of the forest antelopes, is exceptionally peculiar. She is about a small kudu in height, her horns, slightly twisted, reach a length of 80 cm. The color of males and females is different: in males it is dark, grayish-brown, in females it is red.

On the sides, like the kudu, there are white transverse stripes. In males, long thick black hair on the neck, chest, belly and thighs form a kind of "skirt", which allows you to recognize the animal at a glance. The range of the nyala is small - it covers Mozambique and South Africa.

Kingdom: Class: Mammals Order: Suborder: Family: odfamily: Bulls Genus: Forest antelope Species: Nyala Latin name Tragelaphus angasii

This antelope inhabits dry hilly plateaus, rocky plains overgrown with thorny bushes, gallery forests, but is always found near water. Nyala, like kudu, keep in small herds of 7-14 animals.

The composition of such herds is different, sometimes there are several females led by a male, sometimes only females or males. Nyala graze at dusk and at night, leaving for more open spaces, and the day is spent in shelter, in the thick of the bush.

• Squad: Artiodactyla Owen, 1848 = Artiodactyla
• suborder: Ruminantia Scopoli, 1777 = Ruminants
• Family: Bovidae (Cavicornia) Gray, 1821 = Bovids
• Subfamily: Antilopinae = Antelopes
• Genus: Tragelaphus Blainville, 1816 = Forest antelope
• Species: Tragelaphus angasi Gray = (Antelope) nyala

Species: Tragelaphus angasi Gray = (Antelope) nyala

Nyala - Tragelaphus angasi- live in southeastern Africa. The range of the nyala is small - it covers Mozambique and South Africa. Nyals settle near thickets in dry savannah forest, and prefer proximity to high quality pastures and fresh water. This antelope also inhabits dry hilly plateaus, rocky plains overgrown with thorny bushes, gallery forests

The nyala antelope has an exceptionally peculiar appearance and a mass of 55 to 126 kg; an average of 90.5 kg. Males weigh 98-125 kg and are over a meter tall at the withers, while females weigh 55-68 kg and are just under a meter tall. Males have horns that can be up to 80 cm long, the record length of horns is 83.5 cm. Females are much smaller and hornless.

The coloration of males and females is different: in males it is dark, grayish-brown, in females it is red or reddish-brown; both with vertical stripes on the sides and a crest of white hair along the back, which runs from the back of the head to the base of the tail. Nyala has white vertical stripes and spots, the pattern of which varies. In males, long thick black hair on the neck, chest, belly and thighs form a kind of "skirt", which allows you to recognize the animal at a glance.

Nyalas can breed at any time of the year, but there is a breeding peak in spring and a smaller peak in autumn. The estrous cycle of females is about 19 days. Males court females for two days of this cycle, but females are only receptive to mating for 6 hours in a cycle. Pregnancy lasts 7 months (from 7.3 to 8.4 months; average 7.87 months), after which one calf will be born, weighing about 5-5.5 kg. Young are born in a dense thicket due to the presence of a large number of potential predators (lions, hyenas, leopards, wild dogs). The calf remains in the shelter for 18 days, during which time the mother periodically returns to clean and care for him.

The young stay with their mothers until the next calf arrives. Young males leave their mothers during the male courtship period.

Nyala are sociable antelopes and therefore tend to stay in groups of two to 30 individuals. Young females sometimes remain close to their mothers even after the birth of their own offspring, as kinship relationships in female groups can be relatively strong. Males also form groups, but these associations are much more temporary, with no long-term bond between individual males. Nyala is not a territorial species, their habitats often overlap. Large numbers of individuals can gather together for good location feeding or at a water source.

Adult males fight among themselves for possession of the female during the rut. The male steps on another male by raising his white-haired dorsal crest, holding his head high and tail up. If the males are aggressive, then fierce fights take place between them and sometimes one of the rivals can be fatally injured and die. Always the winner of the duel then mates with the female.

This species has a range of stereotypical behaviors associated with dominance and courtship. Nyalas can be active during the day, but more often they are active in the evening and at night. They spend most day hiding in the thicket, especially the hot part of the day.

Nyalas are vulnerable to several types of predators, and therefore members of the female groups emit a danger signal, in the form of a special bark, in order to warn other nyalas in time. They also respond to the alarm signals of some other species - impalas, baboons and kudu. The Impala also reacts to the danger signal emitted by the Nyals. Nyala sometimes follow feeding baboons using fruits and leaves that baboons pick and drop from trees.

These antelopes graze on leaves, twigs, flowers, and fruits of various plant species. During the rainy season, they mainly eat fresh green grass. They drink daily when water is available to them at all times, but they can survive in areas where water is only available seasonally.

The nyalas are now more limited in distribution than they were in the past. AT recent times in some areas their habitat has actually been improved through human activities such as changing management practices Agriculture as a result of the abandonment of the fields and the subsequent encroachment of the bush, and overgrazing of the pastures, as a result of which many grasses are encroached there, which the nyala eats, but the livestock does not.

Antelope (antelopes) is the common name of mammals from the order of artiodactyls, the family of bovids (Bovidae). The name "antelope" comes from the Middle Greek word ἀνθόλοψ, meaning "horned animal".

The pronghorn is the second fastest running animal in the world after the cheetah.

Antelopes have many enemies: in nature they are exterminated large predators- , . A person causes significant damage to the population, because antelope meat is considered very tasty and is a delicacy among many peoples.

The average lifespan of an antelope in nature is 12 to 20 years.

Where do antelopes live?

The vast majority of antelopes live in South Africa, a number of species are found in Asia. Only 2 species live in Europe: chamois and saiga (saiga). Several species live in North America, for example, pronghorn.

Some antelopes live in the steppes and savannas, others prefer dense undergrowth and jungle, some spend their whole lives in the mountains.

What does an antelope eat in nature?

The antelope is a ruminant herbivore, its stomach consists of 4 chambers, which allows it to digest plant foods rich in cellulose. Antelopes graze early in the morning or at dusk, when the heat subsides, and in search of food they are in constant motion.

The diet of most antelopes consists of various types of grasses, leaves of evergreen shrubs and shoots of young trees. Some antelopes eat algae, fruits, fruits, legume seeds, flowering plants, and lichens. Some species are unpretentious in food, others are very selective and use strictly certain types of herbs, and therefore periodically migrate in search of the main source of food.

Antelopes very well feel the approaching rain and accurately determine the direction of movement towards fresh grass.

In hot conditions African climate most antelope species can for a long time do without water, eating grass saturated with moisture.

Types of antelopes, photos and names

The classification of antelopes is not permanent and currently includes 7 main subfamilies, which include many interesting varieties:

• Wildebeest or wildebeest(Connochaetes)

African antelope, is a genus of artiodactyl animals of the bubal subfamily, including 2 species: black and blue wildebeest.

• • black wildebeest, he is white-tailed wildebeest or wildebeest(Connochaetes gnou)

one of the smallest species of African antelopes. The antelope lives in South Africa. The growth of males is about 111-121 cm, and the length of the body reaches 2 meters with a body weight of 160 to 270 kg, and females are slightly inferior in size to males. Antelopes of both sexes are colored dark brown or black, females are lighter than males, and the tails of animals are always white. The horns of the African antelope are hook-shaped, growing first down, then forward and up. The length of the horns of some males of the antelope reaches 78 cm. A thick black beard grows on the muzzle of the black wildebeest, and a white mane with black tips adorns the scruff of the neck.

• • blue wildebeest(Connochaetes taurinus)

slightly larger than black. The average height of antelopes is 115-145 cm with a weight of 168 to 274 kg. The blue wildebeest got its name due to the bluish-gray coat color, and dark vertical stripes are located on the sides of the animals, like in. The tail and mane of antelopes are black, the horns are cow-type, dark gray or black. Blue wildebeest are distinguished by a very selective diet: antelopes eat certain types of grass, and therefore are forced to migrate to areas where it rained and the necessary food grew. The voice of the animal is a loud and nasal grunt. About 1.5 million blue wildebeest live in the savannas African countries: Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania, 70% of the population is concentrated in the Serengeti National Park.

• Nyala or flat nyala(Tragelaphus angasii)

the frikansky markhorn antelope from the subfamily of bulls and the genus of forest antelopes. The growth of animals is about 110 cm, and the length of the body reaches 140 cm. The weight of adult antelopes ranges from 55 to 125 kg. Nyala males are more massive than females. It is very easy to distinguish males from females: gray males wear helical horns with white tips from 60 to 83 cm long, have a bristling mane running along the back, and ragged hair hanging from the front of the neck to the groin. Female nyalas are hornless and are distinguished by a red-brown color. In individuals of both sexes, up to 18 vertical white stripes are clearly visible on the sides. The main source of nutrition for the antelope is the fresh foliage of young trees, the grass is used only occasionally. The habitual habitats of the nyala are dense, overgrown landscapes in the territories of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The animals were also induced to National parks Botswana and South Africa.

• related species - mountain nyala(Tragelaphus buxtoni)

differs in a more massive body compared to the plains nyala. Body length mountain antelope is 150-180 cm, the height at the withers is about 1 meter, the horns of males reach 1 m in length. The weight of an antelope varies between 150 and 300 kg. The species lives exclusively in the mountainous regions of the Ethiopian Highlands and the East African Rift Valley.

• horse antelope, she is roan horse antelope(Hippotragus equinus)

African saber-horned antelope, one of the most major representatives families with a height at the withers of about 1.6 m and a body weight of up to 300 kg. The body length is 227-288 cm. The animal resembles in its appearance. The thick hair of the horse antelope has a grayish-brown color with a red tint, and a black and white mask is “painted” on the muzzle. The heads of individuals of both sexes are decorated with elongated ears with tassels at the tips and well-curled horns directed backwards in an arcuate manner. Basically, horse antelopes eat grasses or algae, and these animals do not use foliage and twigs of shrubs. The antelope lives in the savannas of Western, Eastern and South Africa.

• (Tragelaphus eurycerus)

a rare species of African antelopes, listed in the International Red Book. These mammals belong to the bovine subfamily and the forest antelope genus. Bongos are rather large animals: the height at the withers of mature individuals reaches 1-1.3 m, and the weight is about 200 kg. Representatives of the species are distinguished by a juicy, chestnut-red color with white transverse stripes on the sides, islands of white wool on the legs and a white crescent spot on the chest. Bongo antelopes are picky and eat with pleasure. different kinds herbs and shrub foliage. The habitat of the species passes through impenetrable forests and highlands in Central Africa.

• four-horned antelope(Tetracerus quadricornis)

a rare Asian antelope and the only representative of the bovids, whose head is decorated not with 2, but with 4 horns. The growth of these antelopes is about 55-54 cm with a body weight of not more than 22 kg. The body of the animals is covered with brown hair, which contrasts with the white belly. Only males are endowed with horns: the front pair of horns barely reaches 4 cm, and most often they are practically invisible, the hind horns grow up to 10 cm in height. The four-horned antelope eats grass and lives in the jungles of India and Nepal.

• cow antelope, she is kongoni, steppe bubal or common harlequin(Alcelaphus buselaphus)

This is an African antelope from the bubal subfamily. Kongoni are large animals with a height of about 1.3 m and a body length of up to 2 m. A cow antelope weighs almost 200 kg. Depending on the subspecies, the coat color of the Kongoni varies from light gray to dark brown, a characteristic black pattern stands out on the muzzle, and black marks are located on the legs. Luxurious horns up to 70 cm long are worn by individuals of both sexes, their shape is a crescent, curved to the sides and up. The cow antelope feeds on grasses and leaves of shrubs. Representatives of the Kongoni subspecies live throughout Africa: from Morocco to Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.

• black antelope(hippotragus niger)

African antelope, which belongs to the genus of horse antelopes, the family of saber-horned antelopes. The height of the black antelope is about 130 cm with a body weight of up to 230 kg. Adult males are distinguished by a blue-black color of the body, which contrasts favorably with the white belly. Young males and females are brick or dark brown in color. Horns curved back in a semicircle and consisting of a large number rings, have individuals of both sexes. Black antelopes live in the steppes from Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia to the southern part of the African continent.

• canna, she is eland(Taurotragus oryx)

the largest antelope in the world. Outwardly, the eland is similar to, only more slender, and the dimensions of the animal are impressive: the height at the withers of adults is 1.5 meters, the length of the body reaches 2-3 meters, and the body weight can be from 500 to 1000 kg. The common eland has a yellow-brown coat that becomes blue-gray on the neck and shoulders with age. Males are distinguished by pronounced folds of skin on the neck and a bizarre tuft of hair on the forehead. Distinctive features antelopes - from 2 to 15 light stripes in the front of the body, massive shoulders and twisted straight horns that adorn both females and males. The canna's diet consists of herbs, foliage, as well as rhizomes and tubers, which the animals extract from the ground with their front hooves. The eland antelope lives on the plains and foothills throughout Africa, with the exception of the western and northern regions.

• pygmy antelope, she is dwarf antelope ( Neotragus pygmaeus)

the smallest of the antelopes, belongs to the subfamily of true antelopes. The growth of an adult animal barely reaches 20-23 cm (rarely 30 cm) with a body weight of 1.5 to 3.6 kg. A newborn dwarf antelope weighs about 300 g and can fit in the palm of a person. The hind limbs of the antelope are much longer than the front ones, therefore, in case of alarm, the animals are able to jump up to 2.5 m in length. Adults and cubs are colored the same and have a reddish-brown coat, only the chin, belly, inner surface legs and tassel on the tail are painted white. Males grow miniature black horns in the shape of a cone and 2.5-3.5 cm long. The pygmy antelope feeds on leaves and fruits. The natural habitat of mammals is dense woodlands West Africa: Liberia, Cameroon, Guinea, Ghana.

• Common gazelle ( Gazella gazella)

an animal from the subfamily of true antelopes. The body length of a gazelle varies between 98-115 cm, weight - from 16 to 29.5 kg. Females are lighter than males and inferior to them in size by about 10 cm. The body of an ordinary gazelle is thin, the neck and legs are long, the croup of a mammal is crowned with a tail 8-13 cm long. The horns of males reach 22-29 cm in length, in females the horns are shorter - only 6 -12 cm. The color of the coat along the back and on the sides is dark brown, on the belly, croup and on the inside of the legs the coat is white. Often this color border is divided by a spectacular dark stripe. Distinctive feature species - a pair of white stripes on the muzzle that run vertically from the horns through the eyes to the nose of the animal. The common gazelle lives in the semi-desert and desert areas of Israel and Saudi Arabia, in the UAE, in Yemen, Lebanon and Oman.

• or black-fifted antelope ( Aepyceros melampus)

The body length of representatives of this species varies between 120-160 cm with a height at the withers of 75-95 cm and a weight of 40 to 80 kg. Males wear lyre-shaped horns, the length of which often exceeds 90 cm. The coat color is brown, and the sides are slightly lighter. The belly, chest area, as well as the neck and chin are white. There are bright black stripes on both sides of the hind limbs, and there is a tuft of black hair above the hooves. The habitat of the impala covers Kenya, Uganda, extending to the savannas of South Africa and the territory of Botswana. One population lives separately on the border of Angola and Namibia, and stands out as an independent subspecies (Aepyceros melampus petersi).

• saiga or saiga ( Saiga tatarica)

an animal from the subfamily of true antelopes. The body length of the saiga is from 110 to 146 cm, weight from 23 to 40 kg, height at the withers 60-80 cm. The body has an elongated shape, the limbs are thin and rather short. Only males carry lyre-shaped yellowish-whitish horns. characteristic feature appearance saigas is the nose: it looks like a mobile soft trunk with the nostrils as close as possible and gives the animal's muzzle a certain hunchback. The color of the saiga antelope varies depending on the season: in summer, the coat is yellow-red, darkening towards the line of the back and lighter on the belly, in winter the fur acquires a grayish-clay shade. Saiga saigas live on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, are found in Turkmenistan, in the west of Mongolia and Uzbekistan, in Russia the habitat covers Astrakhan region, the steppes of Kalmykia, the Altai Republic.

• Zebra duiker ( Cephalophus zebra)

mammal animal from the genus forest duikers. The length of the body of the duiker is 70-90 cm with a weight of 9 to 20 kg and a height at the withers of 40-50 cm. The body of the animal is squat, with well-developed muscles and a characteristic curve on the back. The legs are short, with widely spaced hooves. Both sexes have short horns. The wool of the zebra duiker is distinguished by a light orange color, the “zebra” pattern of black stripes is clearly distinguished on the body - their number varies from 12 to 15 pieces. The habitat of the animal is limited to a small area in West Africa: the zebra duiker chooses the dense thickets of the tropics in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast as a place of residence.

• Jeyran ( Gazella subgutturosa)

an animal from the genus of gazelles, the family of bovids. The body length of the goitered gazelle is from 93 to 116 cm with a weight of 18 to 33 kg and a height at the withers of 60 to 75 cm. -5 cm long. The back and sides of the goitered gazelle are painted in sand color, the belly, neck and limbs on the inside are white. The tip of the tail is always black. In young animals, the pattern on the muzzle is clearly expressed: it is represented by a brown spot in the region of the bridge of the nose and a pair of dark stripes passing from the eyes to the corners of the mouth. The gazelle lives in mountainous regions, in desert and semi-desert zones on the territory of Armenia, Georgia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, is found in southern Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and China.

The markhorn antelope breed is a collective concept and implies a group of bovid artiodactyl animals, which are currently systematically assigned to the Bovid family. Previously, they were allocated to a subfamily, but after genetic studies were combined. The tribe has nine species that live in Africa.

Nyala

The original name comes from the local Swahili. Often this species called flat. This is a markhorned 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 former have a gray tint and spirally screwed horns with white tips, as well as an upright mane. Juveniles and females are hornless and red-brown in color. All nyalas have up to 18 white vertical thin stripes on the sides. Males lead a solitary lifestyle, while females and cubs form small herds. Habitat - Mozambique, Zimbabwe, northeast of South Africa.

mountain nyala

This is a markhorned antelope living at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The description of the appearance is in many ways similar to the previous view. However, they are larger, the average height at the withers reaches 150-180 cm, and the weight is 150-300 kg. Males and females are similar in appearance, but the latter do not have horns and are much smaller in size. This is an endemic species of the Great and has the status of endangered. On the this moment the population has 7-8 thousand individuals.

Sitatunga

This is a fairly large markhorned antelope, reaching a height of 1 m at the withers and a weight of 125 kg. Females have a reddish hue, and males are black-brown. Transverse white stripes of varying severity are visible on the body. On the underside of the neck, characteristic crescent spots are visible. The coat is thick and long. Males have horns more than 90 cm long. The main feature of the sitatung is widely spaced and elongated hooves, which are adapted for movement in swampy areas.

bushbuck

Large animals, with a height at the withers from 75 to 110 cm - this is a markhorned breed. The description of the breed should begin with the fact that this species is very common throughout Africa. In this regard, the coat color varies greatly from light brown to dark with a red tint, various kinds of light spots and numerous stripes 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 they can demonstrate by raising their hair on end. They prefer to live in bushes and forests near water bodies. Lifestyle - solitary, less often in pairs.

big kudu

This is a markhorned antelope, which can be easily confused with a nyala. The coat is light brown in color, in males with a noticeable gray tint. On the sides, as a rule, from 6 to 10 white stripes are located. They have large, rounded 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 ubiquitous. Females and young animals live in groups of up to 10 individuals, males live separately or also in a small herd.

lesser kudu

This species differs from the previous one in size. Males grow up to 1 m at the withers, weigh up to 100 kg, and also twisted horns up to 75 cm long. Females are much smaller, but the same in color: brown-brown hair with 15 thin light stripes. Unlike the greater kudu, this species is less common and has a limited habitat.

Bongo

A medium-sized markhorn antelope, the photo of which shows us a rather cute animal, grows up to 100-130 cm at the withers, has a weight of up to 200 kg. The horns of males are in the form of a weakly expressed spiral, more than one meter long. The 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 susceptible seasonal migrations. Females and young animals form groups, males live alone.

Cannes

This is a genus of the largest antelopes, including two species. The height at the withers reaches 1.8 m, and the body length is 3.5 m. All individuals weigh from 400 to 1000 kg. Their physique is strong and massive, the limbs are slender, the tail is long, compared to other species. Markhorn antelope has a characteristic skin fold from the throat to the chest. The two species differ from each other in color. The eland is grey-brown, while the western variety is red-brown. Males and females have spiral horns.