Nyala

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the city in Sudan, see Nyala, Sudan.
For the armoured vehicle, see RG-31.
iNyala

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Tragelaphus
Species: T. angasii
Binomial name
Tragelaphus angasii
Gray, 1849
Male nyala.
Enlarge
Male nyala.

The Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) is a South African antelope. The male stands up to 3.5 feet (110 cm), the female is up to 3 feet tall. The male has loosely spiraled horns and a long fringe on throat and underpants, the female has no horns and no noticeable fringe. The male is dark brown, white on the face and neck, and vertical white stripes on the body. The female is reddish brown with clear striping. Nyalas live alone or in small groups in forests.

The scientific name is after the English artist and naturalist, George French Angas (1822-1886).

The rare Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) of central Ethiopia is grayish brown.