Common Eland
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| Common Eland | ||||||||||||||||
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| Taurotragus oryx Pallas, 1766 |
The common eland (Taurotragus oryx, also known as the southern eland) is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa.
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[edit] Description
The common eland stands around two metres at the shoulder and weighs 275 kilograms (600 lb) to a tonne (2,200 lb). Females are sometimes less than half the weight of adult males. They are the world's largest antelopes, together with giant eland which are actually about the same size. Females have a tan coat, while males have a darker tan coat with a blue tinge; there may also be a single white stripe vertically on the sides. Males have dense fur on their foreheads and a large dewlap. Both sexes have horns, about 65 centimetres (26 in) long and almost straight. The female's horns are longer and thinner the male's.
They "are very agile and can easily jump a 1.5 m fence from a standing start" (sign from Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW, Australia).
[edit] Ecology and behavior
Common eland live on the savannah and eat grass, branches and leaves. They are diurnal but tend to be inactive during the heat of day. Herds usually have 30 to 80 individuals, but are known to exceed 400. The common eland has an unusual social life. They come and go, taking advantage of herd life when they need to without forming close ties.
Predators in the wild are predominantly lions and African wild dogs (endangered).
[edit] Taxonomy
Common eland are sometimes considered part of the genus Tragelaphus, but are usually categorised as Taurotragus, along with the giant eland.
[edit] Name
The name "eland" is derived from the Dutch word for moose. When Dutch settlers came to the Cape Province they named the largest wild ruminant herbivore they met with the name of the huge northern herbivore.
In Dutch the animal is called "eland antilope" to distinguish it from the moose, which is found in the northern boreal forests.
