Today we have some photos from Matthew Ware showing some lovely antelopes. Matthew’s captions are indented, and you can enlarge his photos by clicking on them.
These photos are from South Africa, either near Port Elizabeth or in the Kruger National Park area.
Resting Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus). I was told that it was called this because of the ‘Heart’ shape that the horns make. However, Wikipedia suggests that it is from the Dutch hertebeest, literally deer beast, due to its similarity to a European deer.
Hartebeest in profile.
Gemsbok or South African Oryx (Oryx gazella) in long grass. They are extremely adaptable and can survive extremely arid conditions. In various subspecies, the Oryx, is native all over Africa and the Arabian peninsula.
Gemsbok front on.
Adult Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). They seem quite curious and not overly wary of humans – maybe that’s why they are a staple item on Game Park menus!
Greater Kudus, probably juveniles.
A pair of Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) Very distinguishable from behind as they have large white circles on their rumps.
Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) This is the second largest antelope found in Africa after the Giant Eland.
Cape Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus)
Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) this is a male. Females are much lighter in colour. Many people consider them to be the ‘prettiest’ of the antelopes.
Closeup of the same Nyala.
Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) I believe.
Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male (with horns).
Female Impala (no horns).
Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). This is the Wildebeest seen in the annual ‘Great Migration’.
Blue Wildebeest close up.
Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) This is distinguished from the Blue by the upturned horns and the white tail. They are not as nomadic as the Blues.
Black Wildebeest front on.
Fantastic pictures. Huge diversity of these antelopes in Africa!
Lovely elegant beasts. Puts me in mind of Prester John and Blaauwildebeestefontein, though no one reads Buchan any more. And, as always, the earworm starts:
I’m a g-nu
I’m a g-nu
The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo
I’m a g-nu
How d’you do?
You really ought to k-now wa-who’s wa-who
I’m a g-nu
Spelt G-N-U
I’m g-not a camel or a kangaroo
So let me introduce
I’m g-neither man nor moose
Oh, g-no, g-no, g-no – I’m a g-nu
https://youtu.be/OPgo6s1lBbw
❤️
A lot of bull! 😊
I love all the antler shapes. Wonderful photos! Maybe I’m supposed to call them horns?
Gorgeous photos of beautiful animals. I could fall in love with that impala!
Wow, what a great collection! That’s quite a large variety of these hoofed mammals in a relatively small region.
Lovely photos of magnificent animals.
What a lovely set of herbivores. I’m always amazed at the variety of African antelope and similar hoofed mammals. Good job on capturing so many.
Sorry I don’t know African critters, but the ungulates I know shed their horns yearly. Do these? They look quite permanent. Maybe I’m the only one who has not thought of this?
The waterbuck with circles on their rumps reminds me of a Larson cartoon: https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/150237337539520720/