Range of Subfamily. Africa.
The numerous small Antelopes belonging to this subfamily were all included by Sir Victor Brooke in two genera, one consisting of the Dik-diks (Madoqua) and the other of all the rest (called by him “Nanotragus”). Bearing in mind, however, the naturalness of the smaller groups into which “Nanotragus” may be divided, and the readiness with which these groups may be recognized and defined, we think it better to allow six genera in all, the distinguishing points of which are shown in the following synopsis:—
- A. Nose not specially elongated, its tip with a distinct naked muffle. Crown not tufted.
- a. Hoofs cylindrical, not pointed, the animal standing more or less on their tips. Hairs thick and pithy like those of a Musk-Deer. Horns vertical 1. Oreotragus.
- b. Hoofs triangular, pointed, as in other Antelopes. Hairs normal.
- a1. A naked glandular spot below ear. Accessory hoofs present. Anteorbital fossa of skull very large 2. Ourebia.
- b1. No glandular spot below ear. Accessory hoofs absent (except in Raphicerus melanotis).
- a2. Horns nearly vertical. Anteorbital fossa small. 3. Raphicerus.
- b2. Horns lying back nearly or quite to profile-line of face. Anteorbital fossa large.
- a3. Horns reaching to or past back of head. Anteorbital and nasal vacuities present 4. Nesotragus.
- b3. Horns not nearly reaching back of head. No anteorbital or nasal vacuities 5. Neotragus.
- B. Nose elongated, its tip hairy round the nostrils. Crown tufted. 6. Madoqua.
The recently discovered Beira Antelope of Somaliland (Dorcotragus megalotis) might also be supposed to be a member of this subfamily; but, after a careful consideration of its characters, we think it may best be regarded as an aberrant Gazelle, and as such we therefore propose to treat it. The undeniable resemblance that the nasal region of its skull shows to the same part in Madoqua appears, on the whole, more likely to be due to purely adaptive modification than are the various characters which it possesses in common with the members of the Gazelline group.
Genus I. OREOTRAGUS.
| Type. | |
| Oreotragus, A. Sm. S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii. p. 212 (1834) | O. saltator. |
| Oritragus, Glog. Naturg. i. p. 154 (1841) | O. saltator. |
Hoofs large, cylindrical, blunt, in shape and position quite different to those of other Antelopes. The animal in life walks upon what is normally the pointed tip of the hoofs, so that the hoof stands up vertically, only its blunted end resting on the ground. Accessory hoofs present. Hairs of coat thick, pithy, somewhat similar in texture to those of the Musk-Deer. Tail a mere stump, scarcely projecting beyond the fur.
Skull peculiarly short and broad, stoutly built. Anteorbital fossæ large.
Horns directed nearly vertically; slightly curved forwards; their basal third ringed.
Distribution. Eastern and Southern Africa, from Abyssinia to the Cape.