Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae

Nyala

Tragelaphus angasii

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The nyala is an antelope of south-eastern Africa with one of the most marked cases of sexual dimorphism in the family. The male is slate grey, with a long mane along the back and belly, spiral horns with pale tips and intensely orange legs; the female is chestnut, striped with white and hornless, to the point of looking like a different species. It lives in dense scrub near water and browses leaves and fruit, often beneath the trees where monkeys are feeding, taking what they drop.

Weight

55 kg – 140 kg

Size

1.4 m – 2 m

Lifespan

16 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaTemperate forestHerbivore Crepuscular Savanna Temperate forest Mammal

11countries 5parks86same family

Fun facts

GeneralOne of the most sexually dimorphic antelopes: only the males have horns, and a dark grey coat with a mane.
Male and female look like different species: he is slate grey, maned and horned; she is chestnut, striped and hornless, and less than half his weight.
It often feeds beneath the trees where baboons and vervet monkeys are eating, taking the fruit and leaves they drop from the canopy.