Giant Eland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Giant eland | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  At the Houston Zoo
|
||||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Taurotragus derbianus Gray, 1847 |
The Giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus also known as the Lord Derby eland) is an open forest savannah antelope. It is found in Central African Republic, Sudan, Cameroon and Senegal. There are two subspecies: the endangered T. d. derbianus, found in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park, and the low risk T. d. gigas, found in Central Africa.
Contents |
[edit] Characteristics
Giant eland stand are typically between 220-290cm (7.3-9.6 feet) in length, stand approximately 150 to 175 centimetres (4.9 to 5.7 feet) at the shoulder, and weigh from 440-900 kilograms. The smooth coat is reddish-brown to chestnut in colour (darker in males than females), with several, well-defined vertical white stripes on the torso. A short-haired black spinal crest extends down the neck to the middle of the back, and is especially prominent on the shoulders. The slender legs are slightly lighter on their inner surfaces, with black and white markings just above the hooves. There are large black spots on the upper forelegs. The bridge of the nose is charcoal black in colour, and there is an thin, indistinct tan-coloured chevron between the eyes. The lips are white, along with several dots along the jaw-line. A pendulous dewlap, larger in males then females, originates from between the jowls and hangs to the upper chest, with a fringe of hair on its edge. There is a bit of a dewlap under the throat and a short black mane running down the back almost to the back legs. There are around ten white vertical stripes on the body as well as a white underside and black definition around the base of the neck and along the nose. Both sexes have horns which are relatively straight with many twists. Males have larger horns than females, reaching 120 centimetres. The tail is long, and ends with a dark tuft of hair. Both sexes have tightly spiralled horns, which are relatively straight. In males they form a wide "V" and can grow to 120 cm / 4 feet in length.
[edit] Ontogeny and Reproduction
Gestation Period: 9 months Young per Birth: 1 Weaning: After 6 months. Sexual Maturity: Females at 15-36 months, males at 4-5 years. Life span: Up to 25 years.
[edit] Ecology and Behavior
Primarily nocturnal, giant elands are highly nomadic, with large home ranges and seasonal migration patterns. During the day, herds often rest in sheltered areas. A gregarious species, giant eland herds do not disband in the wet season, but remain together, suggesting that social, rather than ecological factors are responsible for herding. There is no evidence of territoriality, and males rarely display aggressive tendencies, even during the breeding season. Giant eland are alert and wary, making them difficult to approach and observe. They can be quite fast, running over 70 kmph / 42 mph and, despite their size, are exceptional jumpers, easily clearing heights of 1.5 m / 5 feet. Giant eland live in open forest and savannah where they eat grass, leaves and branches. Giant eland are mainly nocturnal and form groups of around twenty animals, although double that is possible. These herds are nomadic, migrating extensively. Their primary predators are the lion and spotted hyena.
[edit] Distribution
Broad-leafed savanna and glades in two isolated pockets in central and western Africa.
[edit] References
- Happold, D. C. D. 1987. The Mammals of Nigeria. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- IEA (Institute of Applied Ecology) 1998. Taurotragus derbianus. In African Mammals Databank - A Databank for the Conservation and Management of the African Mammals Vol 1 and 2. Bruxelles: European Commission Directorate. Available online at http://gorilla.bio.uniroma1.it/amd/amd333b.html
- Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: NaturalWorld.
- Nowak, R. M. [editor]. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World (Fifth Edition). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder [editors]. 1993. Mammal Species of the World (Second Edition). Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. Available online at http://nmnhwww.si.edu/msw/
