伊兰羚羊种

特征

伊兰羚羊与德氏大羚羊一同被认为是最大的羚羊种，不过它们其实更像牛。雌羊重300-600公斤，长200-280厘米，肩高125-153厘米。公羊重400-1000公斤，长240-345厘米，肩高150-183厘米。尾巴长约50-90厘米。雌羊呈黄褐色，公羊较为深色，有一点蓝灰色，也有一些两侧有白色斑纹。公羊前额的毛发很密，喉袋很大。公羊及雌羊都有角，角长65厘米。雌羊两角较阔。

生态及行为

伊兰羚羊栖息在南部非洲的辽阔平原及非洲大平原的山脚。它们吃草、树枝及叶子。它们是日间活动的，但在太阳照射强烈的时候则不太活动。

一个伊兰羚羊的群体一般有30-80只，有些甚至超过400只。它们会根据自身需要而加入或脱离某个群体。

公羊的体型及力量一般足以对抗掠食者，但雌羊则较易受到攻击。伊兰羚羊的掠食者包括狮子、斑鬣狗、非洲野犬及猎豹。

分类

伊兰羚羊有时被认为属于薮羚属，但通常会与德氏大羚羊一起被分到巨羚属中。

用途

伊兰羚羊会被人类驯养。它们肉质鲜美，这是它们被猎杀的主要原因。

名字

伊兰羚羊名字中的“伊兰”来自荷兰语(Eland)，意思是驼鹿。当初荷兰殖民者来到开普省看见如此巨大的野生动物时，就用这个名字称呼它们。

The common eland (Tragelaphus oryx), also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a large savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. An adult male is around 1.6 m (5.2 ft) tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 942 kg (2,077 lb) with a typical range of 500–600 kg (1,100–1,300 lb). Females are around 1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall and weigh 340–445 kg (750–981 lb). It was scientifically described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766.

Mainly a herbivore, its diet is primarily grasses and leaves. Common elands form herds of up to 500 animals, but are not territorial. The common eland prefers habitats with a wide variety of flowering plants such as savannah, woodlands, and open and montane grasslands; it avoids dense forests. It uses loud barks, visual and postural movements, and the flehmen response to communicate and warn others of danger. The common eland is used by humans for leather and meat, and has been domesticated in southern Africa. Eland milk contains more butterfat than cow's milk, and can be stored for up to eight months.

It is native to Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, but is no longer present in Burundi. While the common eland's population is decreasing, it is classified as of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.