Range of the Genus. Africa, south of the Sahara, from Senegambia, Abyssinia, and Somaliland, over the whole continent.
The species of this genus here recognized may be tabulated as follows:—
- a. Height at withers of adult male about 30 inches; horns from about 10 to 15 inches, normally with black tips; a white patch present upon the upper end of the throat.
- a1. A large white patch at the base of the fore leg on the inner side; inner side of fore leg from knee to fetlock and of hind leg from hock to fetlock white; body striped or spotted with white.
- a2. Adult male a rich dark red colour above, and very distinctly marked with many white spots and stripes 121. T. scriptus.
- b2. Adult male much duller or darker in colour, spots and stripes less numerous, the latter often absent.
- a3. Colour yellowish brown; an upper longitudinal white stripe. 120. T. decula.
- b3. Colour darker and richer in adult; no upper white stripe.
- a4. White stripes visible in immature and sometimes retained by adult 123. T. roualeyni.
- b4. White stripes usually absent in young and always in adult. 122. T. sylvaticus.
- b1. Fore leg from base to fetlock on inner side a uniform yellowish brown; hind leg similarly coloured, except for a white patch on front of hock; no stripes or spots on body 124. T. delamerei.
- b. Height at withers of adult male over 40 inches; horns 24 inches or more in length, with amber-yellow tips; no white patch at upper end of throat in either sex.
- a1. Tail thickly hairy at sides and end; inner sides of legs below knees and hocks fawn-coloured: adult male slate-grey, with mane of long hairs extending along throat, nape, and sides above belly; females and young chestnut, with white stripes 126. T. angasi.
- b1. Tail with tuft of hairs only at tip; inner sides of legs below knees and hocks white in front; adult male without mane and, like the female, chestnut with white stripes 125. T. eurycerus.
THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. LXXXVIII.
Wolf del. Smit lith.
Hanhart imp.
The Decula Antelope.
TRAGELAPHUS DECULA.
Published by R. H. Porter.