Nyala

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

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

The Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) is a South African antelope. It is a spiral-horned dense-forest antelope that is uncomfortable in open spaces and is most often seen at water holes. Nyalas live alone or in small family groups of up to 10 members[1].

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 underparts; the female has no horns and no noticeable fringe. The male is dark brown, white on the face and neck, with vertical white stripes on the body. The female is reddish brown with clear striping.

The rare Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) is limited to central Ethiopia. While superficially similair to the lowland nyala, it is now considered more closely related to the kudu[2].

The name "Nyala" is the Swahili name for this antelope. The latin name comes from "tragos" (he-goat), "elaphos" (deer), and George Francis Angas, an English artist and naturalist[3].

Male nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) and twin daughters, approximately ten days old, at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Male nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) and twin daughters, approximately ten days old, at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.



[edit] References

  1. ^ Alden, P. C., R. D. Estes, D. Schlitter, and B. McBride. 1995. National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife. New York: Chanticleer Press.
  2. ^ Shuker, K. 1993. The Lost Ark: new and rediscovered animals of the Twentieth Century. London: HarperCollinsPublishers.
  3. ^ Nyala