# Nyala (*Tragelaphus angasii*) Nyala are beautiful antelopes with long, spiral horns. They have shaggy fur and white stripes on their bodies. Nyala are shy and graceful creatures found in the forests and bushlands of Africa. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Nyala](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/c296a32086f5d1bee60110e936a393ac8468df2ed877185503faa0ced7173098/image-560x560/w-560.webp) ## Appearance The Nyala is a strikingly beautiful antelope with males having a shaggy, dark brown coat adorned with up to ten white stripes and impressive spiraled horns. Females are brighter reddish-brown with clearer stripes and lack horns, giving them a distinctly different appearance. Both sexes have a shaggy tail with a white underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Tragelaphus ## Interesting facts - Males and females look so different, they were once thought to be separate species! - Nyala love to visit "salt licks" to get essential minerals for strong bones. - The male's magnificent spiral horns can twist over three full turns! - They are very shy and often freeze in place, blending perfectly into the bushes. ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Nyala can disappear into dense vegetation because of their striped coats that break up their outline, helping them hide from predators. - **Sharp Ears:** Nyala has large, sensitive ears that rotate, helping them detect distant sounds of predators or other Nyala. - **Bush Navigator:** Nyala can move quickly and silently through thick bush because of their slender legs, helping them escape danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 135-195 cm - **Weight:** 55-140 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-19 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 210-220 days ## Diet & Feeding These shy antelopes munch on a mix of leaves, twigs, fruits, and grasses they find in the bush. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Twigs, Fruits, Grasses, Bark, Flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Lions are a primary predator of Nyala in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards often ambush Nyala in dense bush. - **Depends on:** Leadwood Tree (*Combretum imberbe*) — Nyala browse on its leaves and seek its shade. - **Depends on:** Umbrella Thorn (*Acacia tortilis*) — Provides food and cover for Nyala in their habitat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always observe nyala from a safe distance and never try to approach them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nyala? 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 Nyala? 135-195 cm ### How much does Nyala weigh? 55-140 kg ### How long does Nyala live? 15-19 years ### How fast can Nyala move? 55 km/h ### What does Nyala eat? These shy antelopes munch on a mix of leaves, twigs, fruits, and grasses they find in the bush. ### Where is Nyala usually found? Forests ### How does Nyala hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Nyala: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nyala)