# Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci

The Bongo is a beautiful antelope with striking orange-brown fur and white stripes. They are shy and love to hide in the forests, making them special and hard to spot!

- **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mountain_bongo_mount_kenya.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Chuckupd at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountain_bongo_mount_kenya.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci is a strikingly large antelope with a glossy chestnut-red coat, adorned with 10-15 vertical white stripes along its body. Both males and females possess magnificent, spiraled lyre-shaped horns and distinct white chevron markings on their faces, making them easily recognizable.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Tragelaphus

## Interesting facts

- Bongo calves remain hidden for weeks after birth, perfectly still, to avoid detection by hungry predators!
- Bongos can digest tough woody plants and bark thanks to their specialized stomachs, a forest survival skill!
- Despite their large size, bongos are incredible jumpers, easily clearing obstacles like fallen logs in the forest!
- They are the only Tragelaphus species where both males and females grow impressive, spiraled horns!

## Special abilities

- **Forest Camouflage:** Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci has white stripes that help them blend perfectly into the dappled sunlight and shadows of dense forest undergrowth.
- **Agile Navigation:** Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci can twist its long horns backwards, which helps them move silently and efficiently through thick jungle vegetation.
- **Acute Senses:** Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci has excellent hearing and smell that helps them detect predators and find food in their challenging, dense habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 170-250 cm
- **Weight:** 210-405 kg
- **Lifespan:** 10-19 years
- **Speed:** 40 km/h
- **Litter Size:** 1
- **Gestation:** 282-287 days

## Diet & Feeding

These shy eaters browse on leaves, shoots, bark, and fruits found deep in their secretive forest homes.

- **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Shoots, Bark, Fungi, Grasses, Fruits
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are a primary predator, especially of younger bongos.
- **Eaten by:** African Rock Python (*Python sebae*) — Large pythons may prey on bongo calves and juveniles.
- **Depends on:** Forest Dombeya (*Dombeya goetzenii*) — Bongos browse on the leaves and shoots of this common highland forest tree.
- **Depends on:** Sycamore Fig (*Ficus sycomorus*) — Bongos consume the fruits and leaves of fig trees in their habitat.

## Traits

- [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.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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 admire wild animals from a distance and never try to touch them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci?

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 Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci?

170-250 cm

### How much does Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci weigh?

210-405 kg

### How long does Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci live?

10-19 years

### How fast can Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci move?

40 km/h

### What does Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci eat?

These shy eaters browse on leaves, shoots, bark, and fruits found deep in their secretive forest homes.

### Where is Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci usually found?

Forests

### How does Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci 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*)

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Source: [Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tragelaphus-eurycerus-isaaci)
