Your top 5 favorite Antelopes

In no particular order:
  1. Saiga (Saiga tatarica)
  2. Scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah)
  3. Bongo (Tragelaphus euryceras)
  4. Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)
  5. Yellow-backed duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor)
 
Neil chace said:
In no particular order:
Speke's Gazelle
Soemmerring's Gazelle
Roan Antelope
Kirk's Dik-Dik
Klipspringer
Red-Flanked Duiker

I know, I cheated and included six.

I'd be curious to hear what Zoo Chat's resident ungulate expert, @Kudu21 has as an answer to this question.
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I like all antelope :P

The hodge-podge of Bovids that are traditionally collectively known as "antelopes" is without a doubt my favorite "group" of ungulates. The diversity in these animals is staggering, and it makes it so hard to narrow the group down to just a few choice species! For me, I feel as though there is an added layer of complexity to the question, as I am not only an admirer and studier of these animals, but I have personally cared for 25 different species of antelope across my career as an animal care professional, so I am intrigued by some species at face value, while others I have developed a soft spot for through working with them -- gerenuk, klipspringers, and yellow-backed duikers are examples of species that quickly rose up my personal rankings once I began working with them. They are all truly unique and charismatic animals to work with.

Tragelaphines are, perhaps unsurprisingly :P, my favorite group of antelopes. While this group varies greatly in size, habitat, and behavior, they are all strikingly elegant and beautiful, with their variably striped coats and spiraled horns. Between zoos and the wild, I have been able to see every traditionally recognized species of this tribe except the mountain nyala, which is the the number one species on my bucket list of animals to see before I die, and I have also been lucky enough to work with five of the species (common eland, greater kudu, bongo, lowland nyala, and sitatunga) over the course of my career. The giant eland, specifically, has long been my favorite animal, having grown up with the herd at the Cincinnati Zoo, while the bongo is my favorite species I have ever worked with.

Hippotragines are another personal favorite of mine. They are another group of particularly striking animals, visually; however, they are also very intriguing, behaviorally. The matriarchal hierarchy in herds of sable and roan is very interesting to watch play out! All of the Hippotragines are also known for their feisty demeanors, which is something that I really enjoy the challenge of as an animal care professional.

I have also always been intrigued by the bizarre looking Alcelaphines, specifically the hartebeests. While I have not worked with many members of this tribe (just blue wildebeest), I was captivated by the striking red hartebeest and black wildebeest I saw in the wild in South Africa, and I always enjoy seeing bontebok when I visit facilities that have them. I would love to one day have the opportunity to see additional members of this tribe in the wild in the future.


Not to mention... But what about... How could I forget... I could go on all day :D As I said, I like all antelopes :p
 
  • Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)
  • Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah)
  • Giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani)
  • Bluebuck (Hippotragus leucophaeus)
  • Common eland (Taurotragus oryx)
Antelope are such a gorgeous group of animals, and picking only a handful as favourites wasn't easy! But gemsbok will always reign supreme in my heart, I just find them to be the most aesthetically pleasing animal ever.

640px-Gemsbok_%283051170194%29.jpg

[ Photo source ]
 
1. Saiga
2. Royal Antelope
3. Zebra duiker
4. Gemsbok
5. Bontebok/blesbok

Antelopes and ungulates more widely used to be one of the least interesting mammal groups to me, that has certainly changed, they are rapidly growing on me. It makes it all the more unfortunate that I didn't notice the Royal Antelopes at three zoos I visited with them while I had the chance.
 
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TinoPup said:
For people choosing one kudu over the other - why?
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Pertinax said:
For Lesser; is smaller, neater, lovely paler grey shade, more refined somehow are probably the reasons I would imagine in the choice. For Greater; bigger, more impressive, male has big horns.
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I agree with "Pertinax" about the visual differences between lesser and greater kudu.

However, perhaps more significantly, lesser kudu have always been scarce in European zoos whilst greater kudu are much more common. Consequently I'm sure some chose lesser kudu for their rarity value.
 
This is really hard to do since I like have to agree with @Kudu21 I like all antelope.
But in no order I would say.
1/Bongo
2/Sable
3/Gemsbok
4/Bontebok
5/Tompsons gazelle
 
Most african antelopes tbh... I cant narrow it down but its:

Impala, Gemsbok, Sable Antelope, Eland, Nyala, Nile Lechwe, Greater Kudu, Waterbuck, Sitatunga, Duiker, Dik Dik, Klipspringer, Bushbuck, Reedbuck, and Hartebeest

If I have to narrow it down, it'd be Nyala, Eland, Impala, Sable Antelope, and Waterbuck
 
I know my #1 favorite but filling in specifically the other 4 is difficult so I'm just thinking of others that I really like:

5) Nile Lechwe (Kobus megaceros)
4) East African Oryx (Oryx beisa)
3) Western Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus major)
2) Eastern Giant Eland (Taurotragus derbianus gigas)
1) Giant Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger variani)

Runners-up would probably be Lelwel Hartebeest, Lesser Kudu, Harnessed Bushbuck, Dibatag, & Soemmerring's Gazelle. This list is for appearances only but if it were for function Common Eland would be at the top because they're in the process of being domesticated and are big enough to be ridden!
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
As a ZooChatter who loves ungulates as much as I love elephant shrews; naturally, it seemed that a thread like this would come around at some point. Sure, it’s been some time since I last made a similar thread. But after spreading the news about the birth of Zoo Miami’s newest giant eland. I felt very inspired to ask this simple question of what your top five species of antelope are, that is all; and to start things off, here’s my answer for reference:

1. Bongo
2. Giant Eland
3. Jackson’s Hartebeest
4. Nilgai
5. Lesser Kudu

Honorable Mention/s:*
1. Pronghorn - (not a true antelope I know)
2. Blackbuck
3. Gerenuk
4. Klipspringer
5. Addax


(*means that this will be subject to change)
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i agree
 
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