# Nile lechwe (*Kobus megaceros*) The Nile lechwe is a special type of antelope that loves to splash around in the water! They have long legs and big hooves that help them run fast in wet grasslands. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Nile lechwe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kobus_megaceros-female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bodlina, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kobus_megaceros-female.jpg) ## Appearance The Nile lechwe has shaggy fur that is reddish-brown in females and young males, but turns dark chocolate brown to black in adult males, with a striking white V-shaped patch on the shoulders. Males also boast long, spiraled, lyre-shaped horns. Their hooves are elongated and splayed. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Kobus ## Interesting facts - Male Nile lechwe horns can grow over three feet long, curving majestically backwards! - Their long, splayed hooves make them slow on dry land, but super agile in swamps! - To escape danger, a Nile lechwe hides almost entirely underwater, with just its nose showing! - Wow! Male Nile lechwes turn almost black as they age, earning them the nickname 'black bucks'! ## Special abilities - **Water Master:** Nile lechwe can swim powerfully and stand in deep water because of their long, waterproof coats and unique leg structure. - **Bog Boots:** Nile lechwe has elongated, splayed hooves that help them walk easily on marshy, soft ground without sinking. - **Camouflage Coat:** Male Nile lechwe can change fur color to dark brown that helps them blend into different swamp environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-165 cm - **Weight:** 60-120 kg - **Lifespan:** 11-15 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 220-240 days ## Diet & Feeding These antelopes love to munch on fresh grasses and tasty aquatic plants found in wet areas. - **Primary Foods:** Water grasses, Sedges, Reeds, Aquatic plants, Herbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Major predator of adult and young lechwe. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hunts calves and sometimes adult lechwe. - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — Ambushes lechwe in or near the water. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nile lechwe? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Nile lechwe? 120-165 cm ### How much does Nile lechwe weigh? 60-120 kg ### How long does Nile lechwe live? 11-15 years ### How fast can Nile lechwe move? 55 km/h ### What does Nile lechwe eat? These antelopes love to munch on fresh grasses and tasty aquatic plants found in wet areas. ### Where is Nile lechwe usually found? Wetlands ### How does Nile lechwe hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Nile lechwe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nile-lechwe)