Nyala

Description:

This species shows considerable dimorphism, which means that males and females differ so much from each other that the layman could easily consider them to be different species. Adult males are dark grey- brown in colour with a number of stripes running from their backs down their flanks. Males also have manes of long hair on the tops and bottoms of their necks. They have long hair on the bottoms of their bellies and upper parts of the hind legs and have dark bushy tails. Males sport long dark horns with a noticeable ivory tip. They stand just over a meter high at the shoulders and weigh over 100 kilograms. Prominent markings on the nyala are the two white lines on the face. None of these distinctive characteristics is seen in the female of the species. The females are pale reddish-brown in colour and they have no horns. They are also significantly smaller than the males. The nyala breeds throughout the year. Usually a single calf is born after a gestation period of about seven and a half months An interesting fact is that the juvenile males look like females. It is thought, that this camouflages the young males and protects them from the jealous eyes of the dominant bulls. The young males are therefore allowed to grow up peacefully under the protection of the herd.

Habitat:

Nyalas prefer dense bush and forest areas, which occur in the warmer parts of South Africa. This antelope feeds by both grazing and browsing and will readily feed on leaves, fruit and flowers. This variety in their diet is one of the factors ensuring their successful survival.

Notes:

Eastern Cape, SA