Antilope (Aigoceros) ellipsiprymna, Less. N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 180 (1842).
Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 159 (1843).
Aigoceros ellipsiprymnus, A. Smith, S. Afr. Q. J. ii. p. 186 (1835).
Cervicapra ellipsiprymnus, Sund. Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 195 (1846); id. Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 147 (1848).
Heleotragus ellipsiprymnus, Kirk, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 658 (Zambesia).
Cobus ellipsiprymnus, Buckley, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 284; Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 758; id. Hunter’s Wanderings, p. 218 (1881); Crawshay, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 651 (Nyasaland); Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Afr. p. 288 (1889); Scl. P. Z. S. 1891, p. 326, 1892, p. 471, 1893, p. 505, pl. xxxix. (female from life and young), et p. 727; Flow. & Lyd. Mamm. p. 340 (1891); Lyd. Field, lxxvii. p. 980 (1891); id. Horns and Hoofs, p. 223 (1893); Ward, Horn Meas. p. 86 (1892); Thomas, P. Z. S. 1893, p. 504; Bryden, Gun and Camera, p. 504 (1893); Barkley, P. Z. S. 1894, p. 131; Swayne, P. Z. S. 1894, p. 316 (Somaliland); id. Somaliland, p. 307; Matschie, Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 123, fig. (animal) (1895).
Cobus, sp. inc., Scl. P. Z. S. 1892, p. 118 (Somaliland).
Vernacular Names:—Waterbuck of the English at the Cape and elsewhere; Kringgat or Waterbok of the Dutch; Tumoga of the Bechuanas; Sidumuga of the Amandebele; Ee-tumaha of the Makalakas; Ee-kulo of the Masubias; Umkulamdumbo of the Makubas; Mukulo of the Batongas; Gwelung-gwelee of the Masaras (according to Selous); Nakodzwi or Nyakodzwi of the Ajawa and of the Anyanja; Ipiva of the Angoni; Chuzu of the Achewa, Atonga, Atembuka, Ahenga, and Anyika; and Lipuwa of the Ankonde in Nyasaland (Crawshay); Kulu, Kuru, or Kuro of the Swahilis (Neumann); Balanka of the Adone Negroes; Balango of the Somalis (Swayne).
Height about 39 inches; length of body 43 inches. Fur long and coarse, on back blackish, hairs whitish at the base; paler on the flanks, and passing into white on the middle line of the belly and on the inner sides of the hind limbs. A conspicuous white line across the rump reaches down to the inside of the flanks on both sides. Feet dark brown, with a white line round the hoofs and across the upper edge of the false hoofs, which are distinct. Sides of face and forehead dark brown, nose black; muffle moist, naked, black; line round the nose, lips, and chin, and line over the eye extending in front of eye, white. Irregular line round the neck greyish white. Ears hairy, inside white, outside black, brownish at the base, about 7½ inches long. Tail dark brown, beneath white, about 11 inches long, hair beyond 4 inches.
Horns large and strong, lengthened, sublyrate, inclined backwards and then forwards at the tips; strongly ringed in front for three-fourths from their bases.