The breed of horned antelope is a collective concept and implies a group of bovine artiodactyl animals, which are currently classified according to taxonomy into the family of barnacle artiodactyls . Previously, they were allocated to the subfamily, but after genetic studies were combined. The tribe has nine species that live in Africa.
Nyala
The original name comes from the local African Swahili language . Often this species is called flat. This is a helical antelope weighing 55-125 kg and growing at the withers to 110 cm. There is sexual dimorphism, males are larger than females, differ in coat color. The first have a gray tint and spiral-horned horns with white tips, as well as a standing mane. Young individuals and females are hornless; the color is red-brown. All nyals on the sides have up to 18 white vertical thin stripes. Males lead a solitary lifestyle, while females and cubs form small herds. Habitat - Mozambique, Zimbabwe, northeast South Africa.
Mountain nyala
This is a horned antelope living at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. Description of the exterior 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 have no horns and are much smaller in size. This is an endemic species of the Great Rift Valley and Ethiopian Highlands, having the status of an endangered species. At the moment, the population totals 7-8 thousand individuals.
Sitatunga
This is a rather large helical antelope, reaching a height of 1 m at the withers and a weight of 125 kg. Females have a reddish tint, and males are black-brown. On the body visible transverse white stripes of varying severity. On the lower side of the neck, characteristic lunar spots are visible. The coat is thick and long. Males have horns more than 90 cm long. The main feature of the sitatung is their widely spaced and elongated hooves, which are adapted to move through marshy terrain.
Bushbock
Large animals, with a height at the withers of 75 to 110 cm, are a horned breed. Description of the breed should begin with the fact that this species is very common throughout Africa. In this regard, the color of the coat 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 quite demonstrate by raising the hair on end. They prefer to live in shrubs and forests near ponds. Lifestyle - solitary, less often in pairs.
Big kudu
This is a helical antelope that can be confused with a nyala. The coat is light brown in males with a noticeable gray tint. On the sides, as a rule, from 6 to 10 white stripes are located. They have large ears of a rounded shape and an elongated tail. Males at the withers reach 1.40 m, weigh up to 250 kg and large horns up to 1 m in length. The species is ubiquitous. Females and young live in groups of up to 10 individuals, males live separately or also in a small herd.
Small kudu
From the previous, this type is distinguished by dimensions. Males grow up to 1 m at the withers, weigh up to 100 kg, and also swirl horns up to 75 cm long. Females are much smaller, but the color is the same: brown-brown wool with 15 thin light stripes. Unlike large kudu, this species is less common and has a limited habitat.
Bongo
A medium-sized screw antelope, the photo of which shows us a rather cute animal, at the withers grows up to 100-130 cm, weighs up to 200 kg. Horns in males in the form of a weakly expressed spiral, more than one meter long. The coat color is bright, chestnut-red with white marks 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 subject to seasonal migrations. Females and young growth form groups, males live alone.
Cannes
This is the 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, their limbs are slim, their tail is long compared to other species. The antelope has a characteristic skin fold from the throat to the chest. From each other, two species differ in color. Canna is gray-brown, and the western variety is red-brown. Males and females have horns twisted in a spiral.