The giant eland, also known as the Lord Derby's eland and greater eland, is an open-forest and savanna antelope. A species of the family Bovidae and genus Taurotragus, it was described in 1847 by John Edward Gray. The giant eland is the largest species of antelope, with a body length ranging from 220–290 cm (87–114 in). There are two subspecies: T. d. derbianus and T. d. gigas.
Image: Giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus) male
Image: Taurotragus derbianus gigas
Giant elands have tightly spiraled, V-shaped horns
The giant eland is a herbivore.
The Bovidae comprise the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes cattle, yaks, bison, buffalo, antelopes, sheep and goats. A member of this family is called a bovid. With 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species, the family Bovidae consists of 11 major subfamilies and thirteen major tribes. The family evolved 20 million years ago, in the early Miocene.
Bovidae
Skull of Eotragus sansaniensis, a species of the ancient bovid genus Eotragus
Bovids have unbranched horns.
The gemsbok has conspicuous markings on its face, which conceal the eye, and on its legs. These may have a role in communication.