Wednesday 12 November 2014

ROAN ANTELOPE

Like last week I am continuing to show you another antelope I saw at the Haven Game Park in Malawi.  This week it is the turn of the Roan Antelope. 


The Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is a savanna antelope found in West, Central, East and Southern Africa. It is the namesake of the Chevaline project, whose name was taken from the French Antelope Chevaline.


 Roan antelope are one of the largest species of antelope. They measure 75–94 in from the head to the base of tail and the tail measures 15–19 in. The body mass of males is 534–661 lb and of females is 492–617 lb. The shoulder of this species is typically around 51–55 in.


Named for their Roan colour (a reddish brown), they have lighter underbellies, white eyebrows and cheeks and black faces, lighter in females. They have short, erect manes, very light beards and prominent red nostrils. The horns are ringed and can reach a metre long in males, slightly shorter in females. They arch backwards slightly.


They are similar in appearance to Sable Antelope and can be confused where their ranges overlap. Sable antelope males are darker, being black rather than dark brown.  I did a post 2 weeks ago about the Sable.  
If you wish to see it or see the comparison with the Roan, CLICK HERE


Roan antelope are found in woodland and grassland savanna, mainly in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy understorey (such as central Zambezian Miombo woodlands) to grasslands dotted with few trees, where they eat midlength grasses. They form harem groups of five to 15 animals with a dominant male. Roan antelope commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their horns while both animals are on their knees.


I hope you enjoyed this post and I thank you for visiting.

For some of the other antelopes I posted previously, CLICK Nyala, CLICK Sable, CLICK Eland and CLICK Common Waterbuck.

Many thanks for leaving comments.

22 comments:

  1. Beautiful Antelope images, this is the best you had done, love them.

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  2. Lovely images and interesting info on this magnificent beast Margaret...[;o)

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    1. HI Trevor I am glad you enjoyed seeing this antelope and hearing about it. This is the fifth one I have featured and I think there are a couple more to go. I am trying to do 1 a week. I actually saw more different species in this game park in Malawi than I did later on in Kruger Safari Park.

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  3. A gorgeous animal even if google won't show me all of your wonderful photos today. I'll try again later.

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    1. HI Gunilla Many thanks for all your comments on my last 4 posts and I am glad you enjoyed them. I have a small amount (6)I am sorry you are having trouble seeing the photographs on this post even through today. Hope you will be able to see them later. Have a good day.

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  4. This a kind of antelope I missed when we visited Malawi. At first sight it resembles the Sable antelope, but when you take a closer look the differences are clear.
    Greetings, Kees

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  5. Such a lovely creation this roan antelope is. It is amazing to me the diversity in colors and horns and patterning on these types of animals. What a wonderful trip you had to Malawi! I can't even imagine how many photos you had from this trip Hope you don't have as much trouble as I do sorting this many photos out. I am certainly enjoying these posts. Great series! Also thank you so much for your sweet comment on my baby post! I have seen many deliveries, but this one was really so special. I nearly felt like I might have a meltdown I was so happy... Such a joyful event after a a certain amount of worrying with my daughters age. Big hugs to you from the LONE STAR STATE

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  6. What a lovely creature. Great wildlife photography as usual Margaret.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  7. What a handsome beauty in so many ways. You always know just how to capture them!

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  8. very striking with their masked faces.

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  9. what a beautiful creature!! it's always exciting to view them in the wild, this one so pretty, he almost looks like he has been groomed!!

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  10. He looks like a bandit, he is wearing a mask! Again, another one that is new to me!

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  11. Glorious critter - with very impressive camoflage.

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  12. A beautiful and interesting animal! The photos are awesome.

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  13. what unusual white facial markings and the stand up main bit is quite interesting, beautiful creature..

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  14. My what horns you have Mr. Roan! I too noticed the facial coloring and such a sweet face.

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