Nyala Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum Common Name: Nyala Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Tragelaphus Species: angasii Museum Location: African Savannah Diorama Description: Males weigh 98-125 kg and stand over one meter tall at the shoulder, while females weigh 55-68 kg and are slightly less than a meter tall. Males have horns, which can be up to 80 cm long and spiral upwards, curving out at the first turn. Females and juveniles are usually a rusty red color, but adult males become slate gray. Both males and females have a dorsal crest of long hair that runs from the back of the head to the base of the tail, and males additionally have a fringe of long hair along the midline of their chest and belly. Nyala have some white vertical stripes and spots, the pattern of which varies. Habitat and Range: Nyala are found near thickets in dry savanna woodland, and prefer proximity to high quality grassland and fresh water in Southeastern Africa. Diet: These antelope both graze and browse. They eat the leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits of many different species of plants. During the rainy season they mainly eat the fresh green grass. They drink daily when water is available, but they can survive in areas where water is only available seasonally. Behavior: Nyala are gregarious, generally staying in groups of two to 30 individuals. The species is not territorial, and home ranges often overlap. Larger numbers of individuals may come together at a good feeding site or a water source. Nyala may be active during the day, but it is more common that their activities are concentrated in the evening and night. They spend much of the day concealed in brush, particularly during the hottest part of the day. Communication: Barking vocalization for calls of alarm. Reproduction: Nyala can breed at any time of the year, but there is a breeding peak in the spring and a smaller peak in the autumn. Offspring remain with their mothers until her next calf is born. Species Status: There is a more limited distribution then there has been on the past. Interesting Facts: A male displays himself to another male by raising his dorsal crest of white hair, holding his head high, and raising his tail prior to attacking. By Christopher Mansolf