Common eland
A species of Elands, Also known as Eland antelope Scientific name : Taurotragus oryx Genus : Elands
Common eland, A species of Elands
Also known as:
Eland antelope
Scientific name: Taurotragus oryx
Genus: Elands
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Bernard DUPONT , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The eland (Taurotragus oryx), also called Eland, is an antelope living in Africa. Together with the giant eland, which is not larger, but has longer horns, it forms the genus of eland.
General Info
Lifespan
15-20 years
Diet
Common eland's primary food source is vegetation, especially leaves and twigs of woody plants. It also feeds on herbs, fruits, tubers and flowers, occasionally supplementing its diet with minerals from salt licks.
Appearance
Common eland is a large ungulate with a robust, humped body, covered by thin, rough fur. Its dominant coat color is light buff, while stripes can be seen on its torso, similar to those of zebras. Both males and females feature long, spiral horns, with males having thicker ones. Young common eland have a darker coat, which turns paler as they mature.
Behavior
Common eland is a diurnal, social species forming herds of up to 150 individuals. It's notable for its remarkable leaping ability in response to threats. The animals' foraging habits occur predominantly in the morning and late afternoon, grazing on grasses and browsing on leaves. Males display a territorial behavior, using their dung to mark the boundaries. Highly adaptable, common eland can survive in diverse environments from dry savannah to wet grassland.
Scientific Classification
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