Friday, September 01, 2006

 

Common Eland

Largest and most heavily built of the antelopes. Shoulder height: 6 feet. Weight: up to 2000 pounds. Both sexes have horns about 2 feet long and slightly spiralled. They have a hump on the shoulders and a prominent dewlap. Color is tawny; dorsal line, tail tuft and tip of dewlap are all black. They have a few thin, vertical white stripes on the body and a tuft of dark hair on the forehead. Their hooves are rounded.
Geographical:
Found in eastern, central and southern Africa. Prefer plains or moderately rolling country with brush and scattered trees.
Diet:
Young leaves of trees and shrubs; also, succulent fruits. Males and female favor different foods: females are selective feeders of flowers and herbs in open grassland, while male browse bushes near cover
Can go for long periods without drinking, getting sufficient moisture from food.

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