Lechwe

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Lechwe

Red Lechwe

Conservation dependent (LR/cd)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Genus:	Kobus
Species:	K. leche

Binomial name

Kobus leche
Gray, 1850

A female Lechwe "flying" over a patch of clear water early in the morning in Okavango Delta

The Lechwe, or Southern Lechwe, (Kobus leche) is an antelope found in Okavango Delta of Botswana, the Kafue Flats and Bengwelu Swamps of Zambia, and the very southeast of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Lechwe stand 90 to 100 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 70 to 120 kilograms. They are golden brown with a white underbelly and black legs. Males are darker in colour. The long spiral structured horns are vaguely lyre-shaped, they are found only in males. The hind legs are somewhat longer in proportion than in other antelopes, to ease long-distance running in marshy soil.

Lechwe are found in marshy areas where they eat aquatic plants. They use the knee-deep water as protection from predators. Their legs are covered with water repelling substance allowing them to run quite fast in the knee-deep water.

Lechwe are diurnal. They gather in herds which can include many thousands of individuals. Herds are usually all of one sex but during mating season they mix. The herds on the Bengwelu swamps ("Black Lechwe") are noticeably darker than those found elsewhere ("Red Lechwe").

[edit] References

Antelope Specialist Group (1996). Kobus leche. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006.

[edit] External link

ARKive - images and movies of the black lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani)

A flying male	A female taking off. Other antelopes and a pair of Saddle-billed storks can be seen in the background	A male and his reflection in Okavango Delta	A group of females
A mixed group	Another group at dawn	A fast running group of Lechwe. Note the longer hind legs