Graceful nyala antelope

The graceful nyala antelope that inhabits the savannahs of Southeast Africa is a shy animal that lives under the 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. 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 walk after their mother.

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 goes to open areas. Later hides in a hiding place, in the thick of the bushes. The antelope feeds on leaves, twigs, grass, wild fruits 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.

Antelope (antelopes) is common name 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 by 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 kinds herbs, 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 the hot 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. Average height antelope 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. Tail and mane of antelopes are black, horns 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 of 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. Also, animals were induced in the national parks of 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 mountainous areas Ethiopian Highlands and East African Rift Valley.

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

African saber-horned antelope, one of the largest representatives of the family 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 enjoy eating various types of grasses and foliage of shrubs. The habitat of the species passes through difficult forests and mountainous areas 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 backwards in a semicircle and consisting of a large number of 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 of the 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 the dense forests of 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 The appearance of saigas is the nose: it looks like a movable 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 the 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.

  • 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 nest 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 may congregate at a good feeding site or near 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 of the day hiding in the thicket, especially during 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 mostly 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. IN Lately in some areas their habitat has actually been improved by human activities, such as the change in agricultural practices resulting from the abandonment of fields and the subsequent encroachment of the bush, and overgrazing of pastures, resulting in the encroachment of many herbs that the nyala eat, but no livestock.

GDF 14-11-2013 12:56

I am posting one of my materials from the book African Diaries

The nyala is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful antelopes in South Africa. She owes her name to the language of the Zulus, they call her inyala, after them the rest of the world began to call her nyala. With beauty and unusual appearance, she can compete with any other antelope from the so-called beautiful markhorn nine, which includes, in addition to her, her mountain cousin mountain nyala, eland, giant eland, large and small kudu, bongo, sitatunga and bushbuck. This medium size an animal weighing 100-120 kg with a very narrow body, as if special for moving in a dense bush. Nyala cannot be confused with any other animal. Males have a gray color with milky white thin stripes on the sides, a white chevron on the muzzle, light lips, beautifully curled horns with ivory tips. Males also have a mane all over their back and dewlap. Females are much smaller than males, they do not have horns, the color is reddish brown, they are also decorated with transverse stripes. Males keep separately, singly or in bachelor groups and join females only during the rut. It feeds on grass and young shoots of plants. Nyala is an inhabitant of the dense bush, in her habits she is very similar to the bushbuck. Like the bushbuck, the nyala prefers dense thickets near rivers. Of course, you can hunt nyala first of all in South Africa, as well as in certain areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Hunting is inexpensive, especially in comparison with such representatives of the markhorn nine as the giant eland, bongo, sitatunga and mountain nyala. In South Africa, on a ranch with a high density of animals, a well-developed network of roads in the lands and a beautiful nyala trophy is easy to get in one day, sometimes without leaving the car more than 100m. Nyala is often combined with a package of other antelopes. In Zimbabwe and Mozambique, in wilder conditions, hunting is more sporty and it can take several days to catch a nyala, where you can combine a nyala hunt with a buffalo, elephant or leopard hunt.

GDF 14-11-2013 12:58

The main way to hunt nyala is careful foot patrols of favorite habitats (although searches by car are possible on individual farms in South Africa). Early in the morning or an hour before sunset, nyala can be found feeding in open areas. During the day, she rests in a dense bush and can only be obtained by chance. Hunters in the morning or evening hours slowly and trying not to make a deprivation of noise move around the grounds in search of nyala. It is necessary to make frequent stops to carefully check the surroundings with binoculars. Often it is possible to first detect not the animal itself, but a brown-gray spot of the skin, a white chevron on the muzzle or the tip of a horn in the thickets. When planning a route, of course, you must take into account the direction of the wind. The most difficult is hunting at the beginning of the season, as rugged vegetation makes it difficult to detect animals. But hunting at this time also has certain advantages, the beginning of the season is the rut period, the bulls stay together with the females and become less careful. In addition, the females are brighter in color and easier to detect hunters, so if at this time you notice a female nyala, carefully look around and wait, it is likely that a male is nearby.
The hunter must be ready for a quick shot, very often from the hands. The distance with this method of hunting rarely exceeds 50-60m. A professional hunter is also required to immediately evaluate the trophy. Nyala will not let himself be looked at and aims for a long time. In truth, to determine the value of a potential nyala trophy in field conditions pretty simple. The shaped horns of an adult male nyala resemble a bell when viewed from the front. So, if with this form the light tips of the horns look up, then we see a good trophy in front of us somewhere at 22 ", if the tips are turned outward, then we are talking about a good 24-25" long trophy. If not the tips themselves, but their longer part diverges to the sides, then this is a 26-27" class trophy. When in front of us is a male with horns with a thick base, whose long ends diverge to the sides at a very noticeable angle, then we are dealing with an exceptional trophy of 30" and more.

GDF 14-11-2013 14:08

The choice of weapons and optics is determined by the method of hunting, weapons for specialized hunting for nyala should be short and reversible, convenient for a quick shot from hand. Nyala is not a very strong animal and caliber 30-06 is quite enough, but if hunting implies, in addition to nyala, the opportunity to get a representative of the big five, you should pay attention to 375НН. The optics should be of low magnification and necessarily with illumination, which sometimes helps to make a quick shot through dense thickets.
I want to tell you about my hunt for this beautiful antelope. I have been eyeing the nyala for several years, on the one hand it is a very beautiful animal, it is included in the top nine markhorn antelope Africa. On the other hand, all my many acquaintances from those who have already obtained nyala did so in South Africa on a ranch. I wanted to get nyala only in the wild, without fences, and it is desirable to combine hunting for it with hunting for one of the Big Five.

GDF 14-11-2013 14:09

Such an opportunity presented itself, the place was called Malapati, it was located in close proximity to the Gonarez National Park, famous for its magnificent elephant trophies. This is the southeast of Zimbabwe, just a few kilometers from the border with South Africa in the south and Mozambique in the east.
In the morning and in the afternoon we searched for the elephant, and in the evening we completely dedicated the nyala, an hour and a half before sunset, we carefully walked around the coastal thickets in search of a suitable trophy. It was the seventh day of hunting, before that we only saw small males or mated nyals in dense vegetation. It was the beginning of the season, the visibility was very limited and it was very difficult to find the beast before it did. The hunting that evening did not start to develop very well, the wind often changing direction, which is unusual for this time of day, pushed several nyalas away from us. We did not see them, but only heard the noise from the receding animals in the dense vegetation. We did not lose heart, we continued to move slowly and carefully along our route, constantly checking the wind with the help of a bottle of ash. With an unfavorable wind, we slowed down the movement and waited. Everything happened quickly in just two or three seconds. During the movement, the first launch vehicle stopped something, noticing a small group of trees a couple of tens of meters ahead, it immediately fell on its elbows to examine the animals under the trees. Instantly appreciating he called out to me Rear! Right! Without hesitation, I rushed forward through the wall of bushes and saw two male nyalas running away from a small clearing into a thicket about 40 meters from me. I shot offhand at a rear antelope with what seemed to me large horns already through the vegetation. I was sure that I got it, the question is how. There was very little blood, judging by its appearance and other secretions, it hit the belly. Tracking was greatly complicated by many traces of different freshness of other nyalas around, as well as by the fact that 15 minutes remained until complete darkness. After walking a hundred meters, we decided not to push the wounded animal far, but to continue the search in the morning. I was very worried about the form in which we would find our nyala in the morning, there were a lot of hyenas in this place. But there was no choice, the situation did not allow to shoot better, if I had hesitated for a moment, then I would not even have seen anything at all. Remembering on the GPS the place where we left traces, we went to the car. In the morning, instead of looking for an elephant, we went there in the dark to get to the place with the first rays of the sun, while walking from the car I was overcome by sad thoughts. Hyenas were singing from two different ends, and a lion was hooting from a park that was several kilometers away. As soon as visibility allowed, the trekkers continued tracking. There was very little blood and the night traces of other nyalas were added, so it was not surprising that after 150-200 meters we lost the trail. More precisely, we could not identify the trace of a wounded animal in the labyrinth of traces. Attempts by trackers to leave in a circle from the place where they found the last blood also did not lead to anything. In the end, the nyala is not a strong animal, having received a bullet in the stomach from 375 NN, she should not go far, she huddled in some kind of thick bush and reached. So judging, we returned to the place where it was found Last straw blood. After that, we parted from it in all directions, checking all the supports within a radius of 300m. This tactic helped us out, about an hour and a half later, one of the trackers found an already stiff nyala in the next thickets he was checking. The animal arrived in the evening, and it was very difficult to take photographs. But the hyenas did not find him, and the cold night of the beginning of the season also made it possible to obtain an unspoiled skin.
As for taxidermy, the nyala trophy is just the case when it is worth ordering a whole stuffed animal if the size of the trophy room allows. A stuffed nyala up to the chest also looks great, but unfortunately it will not show all the magnificence of the appearance and color of this amazing beast.

A majestic animal paces measuredly across the hot savannahs and steppes. The antelope is famous not only for its stunning appearance and grace, but also for its lightning-fast reaction and speed, allowing them to immediately hide at the first sign of danger. At the mention of these animals, each person will certainly imagine how a large African antelope with long horns stands wary under the rays of the hot sun. But not everyone realizes how different representatives of a large and confused group can be. This is primarily due to the fact that their classification is unsettled and does not have a clear structure. Antelopes include all bovids that did not fall into other genera, families and subfamilies. Currently, there are more than 100 species of these animals.

Antelopes are well adapted to a variety of climatic conditions. If you look at the habitat of these animals, it is safe to say that they are literally scattered around the planet.

Many are accustomed to the fact that horned beauties are found only in the savannas of Africa. This misconception may have arisen due to the fact that the vast majority of species of the bovid group live on this continent. However, some species of antelopes are found in the steppe expanses. Central Asia, Europe (Caucasus, Alps), India, North and South America.

The antelope usually lives in places with a hot dry climate, where all kinds of herbs grow well. Animals feel great in the conditions of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. The open terrain allows herbivores to notice a creeping predator in time and quickly run to a safe distance. Among them are the famous antelopes from Africa: wildebeest, large kudu, nimble gazelles Thompson and Speke, impalas. The steppe antelope, saiga, lives in the semi-deserts of Central Asia. The rare oryx lives in the deserts of Arabia.

Another group of graceful bovids has taken a fancy to the forests. The eland, which looks like a strange mixture of bull and goat, adapts well to both forests and mountains. Often living in dense thickets, bovids are somewhat reminiscent of deer. Nyala from Africa almost never leaves the dense forest. Tiny babies are hiding in the thickets: dik-dik and duiker.

The most courageous animals mastered the highlands. Some African antelopes such as the sass (or klipspringer) are considered the best jumpers in your group. With the smallest footprint among artiodactyls, these babies are able to cross abysses without any problems and have fun jumping along the steepest slopes. Caucasian and Alpine chamois mainly live on the snowy peaks of the mountains, only in severe winters they descend into the forests.

Some groups have chosen places near swamps and reservoirs. Antelope from Africa strange name"kobs" are tied to permanent rivers and feed on vegetation growing on the banks and at the bottom. This graceful animal lives not far from the harsh Sahara. In light forests with a large number of reservoirs, a not at all large antelope lives - the redunka, or upland.

Due to human activities, the habitats of some species of antelopes have significantly decreased. Pollution of water bodies, construction of cities and Agriculture pushing the artiodactyls from their natural habitat.

What do antelopes look like?

About the horns

The name "antelope" itself is translated from Greek as "horned animal". Indeed, each species of this large interesting group can boast of its own special crown.

If you look at the representatives of all families, you can see that their horns are completely different. They differ not only in diameter, but also in length (from 2 cm to 1.5 m), color and shape. This bony formation, unlike the antlers of deer and pronghorns, is firmly attached to the skull and does not branch.

The most unusual and beautiful is the crown of hornhorns. It has an interesting, spiral shape. Unfortunately, precisely because of this large kudu, the African antelope with long horns (more than a meter), strongly twisted with a corkscrew, was on the verge of extinction. Now the view is under protection.

The Great Kudu from Africa is the owner of the longest horns in the world, usually reaching a length of one to one and a half meters (the record is 1.8 m).

Water goats living near permanent reservoirs have lyre-shaped (doubly curved) horns. Their crown is usually large (in different types from 50 to 90 cm). Only in secretive ordinary reeds the horns are straight (slightly curved to the sides) and small (slightly more than 20 cm).

Peleya, or roe deer, is the only representative of the genus of roe deer antelope. These small graceful animals from Africa, weighing about 20 kg, have short, straight, but sharp and strong horns that allow them to defend themselves from predators.

Representatives of the saberhorn subfamily, resembling strange horses in their appearance, are endowed with very long horns. The shape and thickness of different genera is different: in addaxes - wide and twisted, in horse antelopes - horns strongly twisted back in the form of a semicircle, in oryx - thin straight or slightly curving horns of very large length.

Cow antelopes are one of the largest representatives of their group. Bubals got their second name because of the elongated skull, slightly resembling the head of a bull. One of the features of these large artiodactyls from Africa is that both males and females wear short, curved horns.

Gazelles are miniature owners of a straight or slightly curved crown. This antelope from the Asian steppes and Africa is very fast, and thin light horns do not interfere with running.

Impalas boast some of the most beautiful head ornaments. This African antelope with long horns (about a meter), curved in a wedge, proudly wears a "V"-shaped crown.

But duiker babies are considered the most modest. Their straight horns do not exceed 10 cm in length.

About physique

All antelopes are very strong and hardy animals. However, the structure and texture of their body is also different, depending on the habitat.

So, the wildebeest from hot Africa has slender long legs powerful enough to travel long distances. The body is large with a small hump behind the back. The powerful neck is covered with a kind of "mane". And the head looks like a cow. It seems that the wildebeest was assembled from parts of different animals.

Gazelles are very thin and graceful. These artiodactyls have a long, flexible neck that allows them to quickly look around and reach leaves from trees. Due to their rather small size, gazelles become the prey of many predators. Beauties need to develop the highest possible speed in order to survive. thin but strong legs allow gazelles to jump high, accelerating and maneuvering.

The saiga has an unusual adaptation. In the conditions of the dusty steppe, his unusual nose hanging on the lower lip becomes simply necessary. Inside the proboscis, the cavities are covered with mucous glands that trap particles of sand and other debris.

And the giraffe gazelle from Africa also has an unusual appearance, fully consistent with the name. The long neck of the animal allows it to easily, standing on two legs, eat the leaves of trees, where most herbivores will not get them.

What do antelopes eat?

Antelopes live in rather extreme places: in snowy mountains, in dry steppes and hot savannahs, impenetrable forests. In fact, the diet of animals differs in different climatic zones. What an antelope usually eats even determines the terrain (mountains, swamps, forests, plains). So, the diet of different representatives of this group may include:

  • grass;
  • leaves of trees and shrubs;
  • aquatic and coastal vegetation;
  • fresh branches;
  • young shoots;
  • flowers;
  • fruits;
  • moss;
  • lichen;
  • roots.

Antelopes are ruminants, which allows them to digest even the toughest grass and leaves. Cellulose, found in some parts of plants, is not digestible in the stomachs of many herbivores. Bovids have adapted to process this substance by chewing their food twice.

Many antelopes are said to be able to find food almost anywhere. A sharp scent and natural ingenuity will always find a solution in difficult situation. Therefore, what the bovid eats can change in different times of the year.

Armed and very dangerous

In the wild, only those who can adapt better survive. Antelopes are constantly in danger of being eaten by predators. But even these seemingly harmless animals have their own trump cards up their sleeves.

The main weapon of the gazelle is graceful but strong legs. They save her from being chased by predators. Bovids run very fast, successfully maneuver and jump, thereby confusing the attacker. In addition, being in a hopeless situation (for example, protecting a cub), artiodactyls begin to kick with their hooves.

The most noticeable weapon of these animals is their horns. And graceful artiodactyls use their “decoration” not only for games, mating battles, but also for defense. As a rule, representatives of both sexes of the bovid family have formidable bone weapons. For example, the oryx, an African antelope with long horns, with the help of a kind of "saber" can fight off its enemies, inflicting severe deep wounds.

Forewarned is forearmed. In the wild, this phrase is almost the most important law of survival. The sooner the herbivore notices the predator, the more likely it is to escape. The antelope is a true spy animal. Her large ears, widely spaced on the sides, like radars, listen intently to all the rustles of the grass. The eyes, also located on the sides, allow the antelope to see the approach of a predator. These animals also have a highly developed sense of smell.

Antelopes, like any herbivore, have stereoscopic vision. Their eyes are located on both sides of the head, which provides an almost circular view. These herbivores, unlike predators, see colors perfectly (which allows you to determine the edibility of vegetation). Their eyes focus on stationary objects and are almost unable to see anything in the absence of light.

Sneaking up to one antelope without being noticed is a very difficult task. These animals are almost never left alone. They live in a kind of herd families, which allows you to observe almost the entire area in the district. If one individual from the herd notices a predator, then it will immediately notify all the others with a special signal.

Lifestyle

Antelopes are most often diurnal. In the light of the sun, it is much easier for these animals to notice a predator and find food. Bovids are forced to lead a nomadic lifestyle, constantly moving through endless pastures, forests or mountains.

Antelopes often live in large herd families. In different species, the hierarchy and structure of associations differ significantly. Thus, among the pronghorns from Africa, the leader of the herd (there is no clear hierarchy and family ties) is the female, who directs her relatives to a new pasture or reservoir. Impala also have a kind of harems. The leader male guards a group of several females with cubs.

Antelopes sleep very little. During the day, they occasionally doze, standing on their feet or lying with their legs crossed. In case of danger, the animal instantly wakes up and begins to flee.

Many African long-horned antelopes gather in herds. So much safer. Some of the animals guard the rest, then they are replaced.

Antelope breeding

Many antelopes have a well-defined breeding season. Mating games begin in February-April, towards the end of the rainy season. Each species expects babies to appear at the beginning of the wet season, when there is a lot of food.

Pregnancy of antelopes lasts in different ways. How larger size individuals in the form, the longer the cub is born. For example, eland, an African antelope with long horns, carries babies for 9 months, and tiny dick dick- 6 months.

Marriage games are also different. Some species arrange duels. During the duel on the horns, the winner is established, who receives the harem. Other male antelopes gather a group of females, protecting them from strangers.

Babies are born already strong enough and in just a few minutes they get on their feet. Most cubs begin to immediately follow their mother. In some species of bovids, babies hide in special shelters.

Antelope species

If you look at all the antelopes, it is easy to see how different they are. And this is no accident! This motley group of animals includes several families. Sometimes they include some types of bulls and goats. Antelope species demonstrates a list of subfamilies:

  • real antelopes;
  • saberhorns (saber-horned antelopes);
  • roe deer (roe deer antelope);
  • cow antelopes (bubals);
  • pygmy antelopes;
  • water goats;
  • pronghorns;
  • impalas;
  • some bulls and goats;
  • crested antelopes (duikers).

You will learn about extinct species and genera a little later. Next, consider the most interesting representatives of this group.

Wildebeest

The wildebeest is one of the most famous herbivores from Africa. They got their unusual and even slightly formidable name for the lowing sounds they make.

Currently, there are two subspecies of wildebeest: white-tailed (or black) and blue. The first is considered very rare. White-tailed wildebeest live only in southern Africa (Namibia), and blue - a little north, in Kenya. It is easy to distinguish these two species from each other. In the white wildebeest, the horns are directed slightly forward, the hair on the mane and tail is white, and in the blue wildebeest, the horns are set apart, the hair is black.

The unusual and slightly strange appearance of the animal seemed to have influenced its character. The wildebeest is characterized by an extremely unstable mood. A peacefully grazing animal can jump up abruptly, start butting the air and rush around the neighborhood with anger. If this is not enough for the wildebeest, she will attack the first inhabitant of Africa (even an elephant).

One of the most exciting phenomena of the animal world is the migration of bovids. Each large antelope joins the general nomadism in search of pastures. The timing of migration is not clearly defined. Every year, animals can "push the schedule."

Wildebeest - animals with a very developed social contact. Herbivores will always help out a member of the herd in trouble.

kanna

The eland is the largest animal in the bovid family. The length of her body is 2-3 meters, and her weight is from 500 to 1000 kg! Despite its serious size, this African antelope with long horns looks very slender.

Cannes are reddish-ochre from birth. However, their coat darkens over the years, acquiring a gray-blue hue.

Cannes live in northern Africa, where they safely settle on the plains. Animals feed on fruits, leaves and grass. Despite their outward grace, these antelopes are quite slow (although, if necessary, they can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h). Eland are known as excellent jumpers: from a place they can jump over a distance of more than three meters.

This African antelope with long horns lends itself well to domestication. Cannes is grown for milk, which is several times fatter and healthier than cow's, and meat.

These animals are quite peaceful and try not to displace smaller herbivores from their territory. In addition, they try their best to avoid unnecessary fights. Males communicate before meeting, sending signals to each other about their age, size, size of horns. The opponents assess the strength and the weaker one leaves the territory.

The royal, or dwarf, antelope is considered the smallest in its group. Her height does not exceed 30 cm and weighs no more than 4 kg.

The legs of cute crumbs from Africa are thin, but very strong. In danger, the animal can jump up to 2.5 meters in height. The body is small, oval with a characteristic light brown skin. These are very peaceful animals, so skirmishes between males occur infrequently. The black horns of the representatives of the species are therefore small (3-4 centimeters).

These crumbs live in the tropical forests of West Africa. They lead an active nocturnal lifestyle, hiding in the morning and afternoon. Unfortunately, their small size makes it difficult to study the species. The list of questions that scientists have accumulated is only increasing every year. It is known that representatives of the species live separately.

It is believed that the royal antelope from Africa acquired its miniature size in order to reach what it eats - leaves from the lowest tiers. The fact is that each herbivore is adapted to a specific type of vegetation.

Sagaks (or margachi) live in the steppes of Asia. This slightly clumsy antelope, all species of which were threatened with extinction for some time, is easily recognizable. A large nose hanging down to the lower lip is a kind of adaptation to the harsh conditions of life. The proboscis allows you to filter air heavily clogged with dust.

The nose of the saiga is able to regulate the temperature and humidity of the incoming oxygen. A large number of blood vessels in the proboscis warm or cool the air, and mucous membranes soften too dry. Also, the nose is able to make various sounds-signals.

These medium-sized antelopes weigh up to 80 kg. Their body is long, and their legs are short and strong. Saigas gather in large herds: in summer they migrate together, and in winter they keep warm.

On average, each female gives birth to two cubs (rarely three or one). For several days, the mother hides her baby in a shelter where the saiga calf lies motionless. Only after this time margachi with a large family begin to graze.

It's very hot in the steppes of Asia dry summer and cold winters with strong winds. That is why the fur coat of saigas changes seasonally: in summer it is thin, and in winter it is dense with an undercoat.

Gerenuk, or giraffe gazelle, is the owner of a very interesting appearance. The name of the animal accurately describes it. The long, very thin neck and legs allow the gerenuk to reach leaves on the highest branches.

The growth of a giraffe gazelle (at the withers) is 95 cm with a very small weight of 30-50 kg. Small black horns are found only in males. The body of the animal is slender reddish color.

Gerenuks live in semi-desert treeless areas. Never form groups. Males jealously defend their territory.

Oryx, an African antelope with long horns, is known throughout the world as a famous swordsman. Their slightly curved crown can reach a length of about 90 cm. They got their second name - oryx - these animals got their large physique, resembling a bull, and a beautiful striped pattern on the muzzle, like mountain chamois.

Oryxes live in dry deserts and semi-deserts. From the heat of the sun they are protected by a thick light skin that reflects the rays. Plus, this long-horned African antelope can survive for weeks without water!

Oryxes are able to feel moisture for several kilometers. They rarely manage to find bodies of water. They get all the moisture they need from sparse vegetation.

Oryxes live in small herds, led by a male leader. The association is characterized by a strict hierarchy. The leader guards his ladies with babies, who march in the herd right behind him. At the end are subordinate males.

Oryxes are real centenarians among antelopes. Under natural conditions, they live an average of 18 years!

This African antelope with long horns uses its saber-like weapon in the fight for a female. Duels take place according to special rules. Males stand shoulder to shoulder to each other and begin to fence with their horns. Often this is where it ends. Oryxes do not allow bloodshed.

extinct antelope

The diversity of antelopes is overshadowed by serious losses. Already fourteen genera of these beautiful animals are completely extinct. Among them are both the ancient inhabitants of our planet, and those who lived quite recently. Consider some of the antelopes forever lost to the world.

Tragocerus appeared on our planet about 30 million years ago. These ancient animals lived in the savannas and forest-steppes of Africa. The remains found by groups testify to their herd way of life.

These were small (no more than 90 cm in height) antelopes quickly spread across the continent, adapting to a wide variety of vegetation. Goat-horns died out about 5 million years ago due to a sharp drying up of the climate, and then a cold snap.

No wonder saigas are called living fossils. These animals have retained their unchanged appearance for more than 250 thousand years! Traditionally, saigas are considered a steppe Asian antelope, however, in 1876, geologist Ivan Dementievich Chersky found a margach skull in cold Yakutia.

It turns out that these antelopes lived at the same time as mammoths. It is in conditions of extreme low temperatures and lack of food, the famous margach nose was formed.

The blue antelope became the first large herbivore of Africa to disappear due to human fault. Their habitat was very small (4 thousand square kilometers) and was located in the very south of the continent. Although, judging by the rock paintings, in ancient times it was much larger.

The animal was discovered by Europeans in the 18th century. The antelope got its name because of the slightly bluish tint of the skin, which “shone through” through the skin. The horns of the animal were medium in size, in the form of a curved saber. In appearance, the blue antelope was a typical representative of equine antelopes, only somewhat smaller and more graceful.

A rare animal began to be mercilessly killed for the sake of beautiful skin and just for fun. The meat was fed to dogs, as it was completely tasteless. The blue antelope constantly needed water, so it was vulnerable and could not escape.

The last representative of the species died in 1799 (or 1800). For local peoples, this loss was even more painful: the animal was presented as a protector from dark forces and evil spirits.

Now only four stuffed blue antelope and a few fragments of bones have survived.

red gazelle

Red gazelles lived in rainfall-rich mountainous areas Atlas in northern Africa. Unfortunately, little is known about these animals. Three stuffed animals have been preserved, which were bought at the Algerian market at the end of the 19th century. The last representative of the species was killed in 1894 while hunting. Officially, the red gazelle was recognized as extinct only a century later.

Enemies of antelopes in nature

In the wild, antelopes always have enough offenders. These graceful animals become a welcome meal for many predators. Most often, cubs, old, sick and young individuals who cannot fully defend themselves and run away die.

In the African savannas, large predators prey on bovids. Lions, leopards, hyena dogs, cheetahs often attack antelopes helpless in the dark. In addition, many herbivores die in the teeth of crocodiles when crossing rivers. And miniature artiodactyls, for example, dik-diks, are periodically attacked by large birds of prey (falcons, vultures, eagles) and smaller carnivores (foxes, jackals).

Chamois living in high mountains also hide from their enemies. High gorges are a good shelter, but when the animals go down, they are already in danger. , golden eagles, foxes, leopards, lynxes and eagles tirelessly attack dexterous chamois.

And the forest dwellers have more than enough enemies. Wolves, jaguars, tigers, wolverines are waiting for them in the thickets, preparing to attack. In danger are the cubs, which can not yet catch the approach of a predator.

In the dry steppes, corsac foxes, caracals, wolves, peregrine falcons, eagles and kites prey on antelopes. They attack old and young saigas, which are beaten off from the herd.

The main enemy of gazelles is man. People, violating the laws of nature, kill strong and healthy animals without any need for food. It is man who is guilty of the disappearance of several species of beautiful bovids and bringing others to a critical state.

Now they are trying to “rehabilitate” endangered artiodactyls in national parks and zoos. So, recently, the population of Sahara oryx, restored over several decades, was returned to nature.

Even in the Middle Ages, the antelope was rarely found on the arms of European kingdoms and cities. Although, if you see her image, you are unlikely to recognize in a creature with a tiger's head, on which terrible horns with jagged, huge boar tusks, thick long hair on the neck and lion's tail. From the antelope of this strange chimera, only the body remained. This creature flaunted on the emblem of King Henry V. In heraldry, such an image symbolizes grace, speed, spiritual ideal. Now antelopes (in the form familiar to humans) adorn the coats of arms of Uganda and Zimbabwe.

In 2009, paleontologists discovered an ancient antelope in Kenya. So far, the animal has only the scientific name "Rusingoryx atopocranion". The ancient herbivore lived approximately in the same place where the famous wildebeest now lives. The skeleton, which is already several thousand years old, is very well preserved. This made it possible for scientists to establish that the structure and appearance animals are almost the same as those of the wildebeest. Only one detail stands out: in the nose of an ancient mammal there are bone ridges that worked like pipes-vuvuzelas. Similar mechanisms that allow you to communicate on ultrasound, were found in some species of dinosaurs.

Not all antelopes have only two horns. In India, live small, about 60 cm in height, animals. Four-horned antelopes of all bovids can boast of having two pairs of bone growths. Now this species is under threat, because due to the unusual head and tasty meat the animal was actively hunted.

The pronghorn, an African antelope with long horns, has very good eyesight. His big eyes, located on the sides of the head, work like powerful binoculars. Scientists have calculated that the pronghorn sees everything as clearly as a lens with an eightfold magnification.

A strand of hair grows on the head of a male canna all his life. These beams can be used to determine the age of the animal. In older antelopes, the strand is long and thick.