The mountain nyala, Tragelaphus buxtoni, or balbok, is a large antelope found in high-altitude woodlands in a small part of central Ethiopia. It is a monotypic species with no identified subspecies, first described by the English naturalist Richard Lydekker in 1910. Males are typically 120 to 135 centimetres tall at the shoulder and weigh 180 to 300 kilograms, and females stand 90 to 100 centimetres and weigh 150 to 200 kilograms. The coat is grey to brown with two to five poorly defined white stripes and a row of six to ten white spots, and males have a short dark erect crest along the back. Major threats to its survival include illegal hunting, since it is extensively hunted for its horns and meat, and the reduction of continuous woodland habitat. The population is decreasing even now.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 1 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Connections
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mountain nyala (Wikipedia)LeadQuote, Lead
The mountain nyala (Amharic: የደጋ አጋዘን) (Tragelaphus buxtoni) or balbok, is a large antelope found in high altitude woodlands in a small part of central Ethiopia.
Sources
1. Mountain nyala (Wikipedia)
Lead
The mountain nyala (Amharic: የደጋ አጋዘን) (Tragelaphus buxtoni) or balbok, is a large antelope found in high altitude woodlands in a small part of central Ethiopia.
Lead, diet
Primarily a browser, the mountain nyala may switch to grazing occasionally.
Threats and conservation
The population is decreasing even now.
Threats and conservation, threats
Major threats to the survival of the mountain nyala include illegal hunting, habitat destruction, encroachment by livestock, predation of calves by dogs, expansion of montane cultivation and construction at high altitudes.
Habitat and distribution
Nowadays the continuous blocks of woodland habitat have been reduced to a series of pockets, interspersed in large cultivated lands.
Threats and conservation, relationship to people
The animal is extensively hunted for its horns and meat.
Lead, lifespan
The lifespan of a mountain nyala is around 15 to 20 years.
Child Taxon Of: Bovidae, Taxonomy
The species has been classified under the genus Tragelaphus of the family Bovidae.
View the SourceArtiodactyla (Wikipedia)
In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Inner systematicsQuote, In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Inner systematics
The bovids (Bovidae) are the most species-rich family.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.