Tragelaphus

Tragelaphus
An adult male greater kudu by the Chobe River, Botswana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Tribe: Tragelaphini
Genus: Tragelaphus
(Blainville, 1816)
Type species
Antilope sylvatica
Sparrman, 1780
Species

Tragelaphus angasii
Tragelaphus buxtoni
Tragelaphus eurycerus
Tragelaphus imberbis
Tragelaphus scriptus
Tragelaphus spekii
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Tragelaphus is a genus of medium-to-large-sized spiral-horned antelopes. It contains several species of bovines, all of which are relatively antelope-like. Species in this genus tend to be large in size and lightly built, and have long necks and considerable sexual dimorphism. Elands, including the common eland (Taurotragus oryx), are embedded within this genus, meaning that Taurotragus must be subsumed into Tragelaphus to avoid paraphyly. Alternatively, Taurotragus could be maintained as a separate genus, if the nyala and the lesser kudu are relocated to their own monospecific genera, respectively Nyala and Ammelaphus. Other generic synonyms include Strepsiceros (which applies to T. strepsiceros) and Boocercus (for T. eurycerus).[1] The name "Tragelaphus" comes from the mythical tragelaph.