德氏大羚羊种

特征

德氏大羚羊与大羚羊被一同划分到旋角大羚羊属。该物种与大羚羊的大小相仿。然而，德氏大羚羊平均个体比普通大羚羊稍大，因此有时会被认为是世界上最大的羚羊。它们身体长度通常在220和290厘米之间，站立时肩膀离地面高度大约130至180厘米。德氏大羚羊表现出很明显的性别差异，因为雄性比雌性大,雄性德氏大羚羊体重400至1000公斤，雌性德氏大羚羊体重则为300至600公斤。德氏大羚羊的寿命可达在野外25年，在圈养环境下约为20年。

分布

西部德氏大羚羊种群的主要威胁是过度捕猎以及人力和牲畜数量的扩张导致的栖息地被破坏。同时，由于口蹄疫袭击，东部德氏大羚羊的种群数量已经有所下降。这种情况是在二战期间以及其他民间战争导致它们的自然栖息地遭到损害。德氏大羚羊已经在冈比亚，加纳，科特迪瓦等地区消失。据报道，西部亚种曾经被认为在多哥还有分布，但是目前相信是与紫羚（Tragalephaus eurycerus）相互混淆。 1970年，据报道，由于军事活动导致了该物种在乌干达地区消失。

名字

虽然德氏大羚羊比普通大羚羊大，但是英文中“Giant Eland”中的“Giant”（巨大的）实际上指的是它的大角。“Eland”则是来自荷兰语，意思其实是指驼鹿。最初荷兰殖民者来到非洲地区看见如此巨大的羚羊的时候，就用这个名字称呼它们。

The giant eland (Tragelaphus derbianus), also known as Lord Derby's eland or greater eland, is an open-forest and savanna antelope. A species of the family Bovidae and genus Tragelaphus, it was described in 1847 by John Edward Gray. The giant eland is the largest species of antelope, with a body length ranging from 220–290 cm (7.2–9.5 ft). There are two subspecies: T. d. derbianus and T. d. gigas.

The giant eland is a herbivore, eating grasses, foliage and branches. They usually form small herds consisting of 15–25 members, both males and females. Giant elands are not territorial, and have large home ranges. They are naturally alert and wary, which makes them difficult to approach and observe. They can run at up to 70 km/h (43 mph) and use this speed as a defence against predators. Mating occurs throughout the year but peaks in the wet season. They mostly inhabit broad-leafed savannas, woodlands and glades.

The giant eland is native to Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan. It is no longer present in The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo. It can also be found in the Jos wildlife park in Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Uganda. The subspecies have been listed with different conservation statuses by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).