Global InformationTragelaphini information
| Tragelaphini Temporal range: Middle Miocene – present, [1]
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Giant eland showing the characteristic spiral-horns seen in this group of bovines. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Bovinae |
| Tribe: | Tragelaphini Blyth, 1863 sensu Sokolov, 1953 |
| Type species | |
| Antilope sylvatica Pallas, 1766
| |
| Genera | |
|
See text
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
| |
The tribe Tragelaphini (sometimes referred to by some authors as "Strepsicerotini"[2][3]), or the spiral-horned antelopes, are bovines that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. These include the bushbucks, kudus, and the elands. The scientific name is in reference to the mythical creature the tragelaph, a Chimera with the body of a stag and the head of a goat. They are medium-to-large, tall, long-legged antelopes characterized by their iconic twisted horns and striking pelage coloration patterns (most common is the distinctive white, vertical barring).[4]
Despite being among the largest species of antelope, they are actually more closely related to cattle (Bos taurus), and together along with a few apparent Asiatic species belong to the subfamily Bovinae.[4][5][6] While the group's evolutionary history occurred in Africa, there have been fossil species that have been found in Eurasia (which may also be the place of origin for this group).[7][8] The number of genera and species is debated as some consider there to be one or two genera with nine species, while others consider there to be five genera and 25 species.[6] In general, spiral-horned antelopes can be roughly divided into two groups: robust forms (which only consists of the two eland species, Taurotragus) and gracile forms (the rest of them, in the genus Tragelaphus, although this taxon is an unnatural grouping, and might warrant additional genera).[5][6][1]
Spiral-horned antelopes are browsers, found in a wide variety of environments both arid and humid, including semi-deserts, savannas, rainforests and mountains.[1][4] In all these environments, however, they prefer to live in dense bush or thicket, which offer concealment from their natural predators. Considered among the most beautiful and charismatic bovids, the various species of spiral-horned antelopes are popular in zoos and game reserves.[9] The two eland species have been ranched as alternatives to cattle, being hardy in extreme environments, relatively placid in character, and nutritionally superior as a meat source.[10][11][12][13]
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
kingdon2015was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
grubb2001was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
grubb2004was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Castelló, J.R. (2016). Bovids of the Word. Princeton University Press.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
willowsmunro2005was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Groves, C.; Grubb, P. (2011). Ungulate Taxonomy. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
agustantón2005was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
kostopouloskoufos2006was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
mungall2007was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
posselt1963was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
lightfoot1977was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
lightfootposs1977was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
bartoňetal2014was invoked but never defined (see the help page).