NILGAI





SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

COMMON NAME:

nilgai, bluebuck

KINGDOM:

Animalia

PHYLUM:

Chordata

CLASS:

Mammalia

ORDER:

Artiodactyla

FAMILY:

Bovidae

GENUS SPECIES:

Boselaphus (ox/bull) tragocamelus (goat-like camel)


FAST FACTS

DESCRIPTION:

The nilgai's short coat is yellow-brown in females, and gradually turns blue-gray in males as they mature. It also has a mane on the nape and back, a "hair pennant" in the middle of the underside of the neck, white markings on cheek and edges of the lips, and a white throat patch. The nilgai has slender legs and a stocky body, which slopes downwards towards the rear. The head is long and slender.

MALE

Males have 20-25 cm (8-10 in) long horns which are straight and tilted slightly forwards.

SIZE:

Shoulder height 120-150 cm (4-5 ft.)

WEIGHT:

Approximately 120-240 kg (264-528 lb)

DIET:

Herbivores - diet includes desert succulents, grasses, herbs, and leaves of small bushes.

GESTATION:

Gestation lasts approximately 8 months

SEXUAL MATURITY:

Approximately 18 months

LIFE SPAN:

Up to 21 years

RANGE:

Throughout India

HABITAT:

Found on the grassy steppe and in woodlands

POPULATION:

GLOBAL

Unknown

STATUS:

IUCN

Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent

CITES

Not listed

USFWS

Not listed


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