Mountain Nyala
Encyclopedia
The Mountain Nyala found in Oromia, Ethiopia as gadumsa, is an antelope
found in high altitude
woodland
in a small part of central Ethiopia
. Mountain Nyala were named for their similarity to the Nyala
but they are now considered closer relatives of the Kudu
.
Mountain Nyala stand around a metre at the shoulder and weigh 150 to 300 kilograms, males being considerably larger than females. Mountain Nyala have grey-brown coats sometimes with poorly defined white stripes and splotches, their coats darken as they age, the underside is lighter than the rest of the coat. Males have horns which twist one or two times and average slightly less than a metre in length.
Mountain Nyala are endemic to the Ethiopian highlands
southeast of the Rift Valley
, between 6°N and 10°N. Their former range was from Mount Gara Muleta in the east to Shashamene
and the northern Bale Zone
to the south; currently, the main area of distribution is the Bale Mountains National Park
. Within this range, the Mountain Nyala prefer woodland, heath, and scrub at altitudes of at least 2000 metres above sea level
sometimes wandering as high as 4000 metres. Mountain Nyala mainly eat herbs and shrubs. Mountain Nyala live in groups of about four to six animals sometimes ranging to thirteen and occasionally more, these groups are mainly females and calves often with one old male.
There are about 2500 Mountain Nyala in existence, which are threatened primarily by the encroachment of too many people in their habitat
.
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
found in high altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
in a small part of central Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Mountain Nyala were named for their similarity to the Nyala
Nyala
The Nyala is a Southern African antelope. It is a spiral-horned dense-forest antelope that is uncomfortable in open spaces and is most often seen at water holes. Nyalas live alone or in small family groups of up to 10 individuals.The male stands up to 110 cm , the female is up to 90 cm ...
but they are now considered closer relatives of the Kudu
Kudu
The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus Tragelaphus:*Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis*Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros- Etymology :...
.
Mountain Nyala stand around a metre at the shoulder and weigh 150 to 300 kilograms, males being considerably larger than females. Mountain Nyala have grey-brown coats sometimes with poorly defined white stripes and splotches, their coats darken as they age, the underside is lighter than the rest of the coat. Males have horns which twist one or two times and average slightly less than a metre in length.
Mountain Nyala are endemic to the Ethiopian highlands
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea , and northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa...
southeast of the Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
, between 6°N and 10°N. Their former range was from Mount Gara Muleta in the east to Shashamene
Shashamene (woreda)
Shashamene is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center of the woreda, Shashamene. Part of the Misraq Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Shashamene is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples...
and the northern Bale Zone
Bale Zone
Bale is one of the 17 zones in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Bale is named for the former kingdom of Bale, which was in approximately the same area...
to the south; currently, the main area of distribution is the Bale Mountains National Park
Bale Mountains National Park
The Bale Mountains National Park is a national park in the Oromia Region of southeast Ethiopia. Created in 1970, this park covers about 2,200 square kilometers of the Bale Mountains to the west and southwest of Goba in the Bale Zone...
. Within this range, the Mountain Nyala prefer woodland, heath, and scrub at altitudes of at least 2000 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
sometimes wandering as high as 4000 metres. Mountain Nyala mainly eat herbs and shrubs. Mountain Nyala live in groups of about four to six animals sometimes ranging to thirteen and occasionally more, these groups are mainly females and calves often with one old male.
There are about 2500 Mountain Nyala in existence, which are threatened primarily by the encroachment of too many people in their habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
.