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Nile Lechwe at Giza Zoo
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Species: Kobus megaceros |
Distribution:
Nile lechwes have a very restricted geographic range. They are found only in the Bahr-el-Ghazel district of the Southern Sudan, and in Machar Gambella marshes of Ethiopia in Africa.>
Habitat:
Nile lechwes are found in swamps, dry and flooded grass marshes, and steppes. The species is known to inhabit short grass, high reed, and cane thickets. |  |
Description:
Nile Lechwe stands 90 to 100 cm at the shoulder and weigh from 70 to 110 kg. Females are golden-brown with a white underbelly and no horns. Males are chocolate brown to russet with a white 'hood' over the shoulders and small white patches over the eyes. They have long ridge structured horns which are vaguely 's' shaped in profile.
Lifespan:
They can reach 19 years in captivity, and 10 years in wild.
Diet:
Nile lechwes are herbivorous, eating grasses, herbs, and water plants.
Behavior:
Nile lechwes are diurnal and social. They are gregarious, but territorial, animals. They form herds of 50 to 500 individuals. There is no cooperative defense by the herd when attacked, but females will defend their offspring from smaller predators by direct attack, mainly kicking, usually in response to the young's distress calls. Nile lechwes are attracted to water and wetlands, so during the wet season the population is spread out over water resources. During the dry season, these animals gather around the few water resources left. They will rest in areas above the water level such as dry banks, sandbanks, and islands, and flee to water when disturbed. They are good swimmers, but prefer to wade in shallow water.
 | Reproduction:
Nile lechwe breeds once yearly. In the wild, mating occur between February and May. Gestation period is vary from 7 to 8 months after then one offspring is produced, which become independent at 6 to 8 months. Age at sexual maturity is vary from 1.5 to 2.5 years. Nile lechwe has a harem mating system where only the dominant male is sexually active. |
Conservation Status:
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
References;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobus_megaceros
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kobus_megaceros.html
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/11034/0
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