Royal Antelope

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Royal Antelope
Conservation status
Near Threatened (NT)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Neotragus Species: N. pygmaeus
Binomial name
Neotragus pygmaeus L., 1758

The Royal Antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) is a very small West African antelope, only 25–30 cm (10–12 inches) tall and weighing only 3.2–3.6 kg (7–8 lb), are the smallest of all antelopes. It is light brown in colour, with a paler underbelly and slightly darker head and flanks. The male has small, spike-like horns, about 1 inch long.

Royal Antelopes live in dense forests in West Africa, feeding on leaves and fruit in the undergrowth. They are mostly nocturnal and are very shy, reputedly able to leap 2.5 metres in one bound if disturbed. They are not gregarious, living on their own or occasionally in pairs.

This shy and poorly known antelope is listed as endangered.