Animals Unique | Bongo Unique | Bongo Classification and Evolution
The Bongo is a large species of antelope found inhabiting That Is the jungles and forests of Eastern, Western and Central Africa. They are the largest forest-dwelling antelope species and one of the most distinctive, with a chestnut colored coats and long horns That spiral as high as 90cm in lazy.
The Bongo is a large species of antelope found inhabiting That Is the jungles and forests of Eastern, Western and Central Africa. They are the largest forest-dwelling antelope species and one of the most distinctive, with a chestnut colored coats and long horns That spiral as high as 90cm in lazy.
There are two sub-species of recognised the which are the Mountain Bongo Bongo (also known as the Eastern Bongo) and the Lowland Bongo (also known as the Western Bongo), the which is primarily found in the forests of Central Africa. Both species of Bongo are Threatened by hunting and habitat loss both with Populations Declined having significantly enough for it to be listed as a near Threatened species by the IUCN, as although it still has a Relatively wide distribution, Populations are Becoming more and more isolated.
Bongo Anatomy and Appearance
The Bongo is a large and heavy-bodied antelope with a short and glossy, orange or chestnut colored coat That is darker on the Underside and patterned with Between 10 and 15 vertical white stripes That Bongo to help the REMAIN camouflaged in the dense jungle. They also have distinctive white markings on Their cheeks, a white chevron Between the eyes and nose and a white crescent-like shape on Their chest. The legs of the Bongo are banded with both white and black and Their long tail has a Tufted tip. Bongos also have large ears giving them very sensitive hearing and a long prehensile tongue the which allows them to grip onto leaves higher up and strip them from the branches with ease. Their distinctive spiraled horns usually have either one or one-and-half twists, with Those of lazy being longer and more coiled than the horns of the slightly smaller and lighter-colored Females. Bongos also have a thin mane runs along That Their body from the shoulders to the rump.
Bongo Anatomy and Appearance
The Bongo is a large and heavy-bodied antelope with a short and glossy, orange or chestnut colored coat That is darker on the Underside and patterned with Between 10 and 15 vertical white stripes That Bongo to help the REMAIN camouflaged in the dense jungle. They also have distinctive white markings on Their cheeks, a white chevron Between the eyes and nose and a white crescent-like shape on Their chest. The legs of the Bongo are banded with both white and black and Their long tail has a Tufted tip. Bongos also have large ears giving them very sensitive hearing and a long prehensile tongue the which allows them to grip onto leaves higher up and strip them from the branches with ease. Their distinctive spiraled horns usually have either one or one-and-half twists, with Those of lazy being longer and more coiled than the horns of the slightly smaller and lighter-colored Females. Bongos also have a thin mane runs along That Their body from the shoulders to the rump.
Bongo Distribution and Habitat
The Bongo is natively found inhabiting the dense forests of Eastern, Western and Central Africa and although it is still found in a number of different countries today, Populations are decreasing in size with the Bongo now actually Considered to be extinct from some regions. The Lowland Bongo inhabits the dense forests and bamboo thickets Lowland of Western and Central Africa, and although is still found throughout much of it's historical range in Central Africa, is Becoming rarer in the West. Mountain Bongos were once found in the highland forests of both Kenya and Uganda but are now restricted to just four areas in Kenya after having disappeared from Uganda at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Populations have Decreased rapidly throughout much of Their natural range due to habitat loss, Mainly in the form of deforestation.
Bongo Behaviour and Lifestyle
The Bongo is a shy and elusive creature That is seldom seen by people due to it's highly nocturnal lifestyle. As with many other antelope species, Bongos turn and evasion when They feel almost Immediately Threatened Quickly and can disappear into the surrounding forest, running with Their Their horns laid back against the body to Prevent them from getting Tangled up in the vegetation. Male Bongos are solitary and will only come into contact with other Bongos to breed, whereas although Females can be found on Their Own, They Often herds That form can contain up to 50 members and consist of the Females and Their Young (for protection). Bongos Produce a variety of different calls, so They are Able to Communicate Including grunts, snorts, Moos and bleating to warn others of approaching danger or when They are in distress.
Bongo Reproduction and Life Cycles
Most mating tends to occur Between October and January, after the which the female will give birth Bongo to a single calf Following a gestation period That Lasts for around nine months. In order to try and protect the vulnerable calf from predators, Females give birth to calf in dense vegetation Their where she leaves it lying silently for about a week. During this time, the mother returns regularly to nurse her calf and when the calf is strong enough They both join-up with other Females and Their Young for better protection. Relatively bongo calves grow fast and Their horns begin to show by the time three or four They are months old.Occurs Weaning calves at six months but growing niche to REMAIN with the nursery group for longer.
Bongo Diet and Prey
The Bongo is a herbivorous mammal That means the which They only feed on plant matter in order to gain the nutrition That They need to survive. That Bongos are selective browsers feed on leaves, roots, bark and grasses under the cover of night to keep them safer from the predators Carnivorous Numerous That They share with Their habitats. The Bongo has a prehensile tongue the which helps it to reach fresh leaves higher up and it also aids when pulling roots out of the ground.Like other antelopes (and cattle the which They are too closely related), the Bongo has a four-chambered ruminating stomach to help it to break down the cellulose That the plants contain. Food passes through Their digestive system is very SLOWLY in comparison to other Mammals to maximise the nutritional intake.
Bongo Predators and Threats
Bongos are prey to Numerous large predators in their surrounding environments with Leopards Their most common being natural threat along with Lions in Certain areas. The young calves are also vulnerable to predation from Hyenas Pythons and throughout much of Their natural range. Another big threat to Bongos is the fact That They are particularly susceptible to disease, with the entire population having been nearly wiped out in the late 1800s. They are however, at the biggest risk from people WHO do not just hunt them both directly and by setting Snares but also have obliterated much of the vast natural range Their one through deforestation to both the make way for agriculture and to gather tropical woods for the timber industry.
Most mating tends to occur Between October and January, after the which the female will give birth Bongo to a single calf Following a gestation period That Lasts for around nine months. In order to try and protect the vulnerable calf from predators, Females give birth to calf in dense vegetation Their where she leaves it lying silently for about a week. During this time, the mother returns regularly to nurse her calf and when the calf is strong enough They both join-up with other Females and Their Young for better protection. Relatively bongo calves grow fast and Their horns begin to show by the time three or four They are months old.Occurs Weaning calves at six months but growing niche to REMAIN with the nursery group for longer.
Bongo Diet and Prey
The Bongo is a herbivorous mammal That means the which They only feed on plant matter in order to gain the nutrition That They need to survive. That Bongos are selective browsers feed on leaves, roots, bark and grasses under the cover of night to keep them safer from the predators Carnivorous Numerous That They share with Their habitats. The Bongo has a prehensile tongue the which helps it to reach fresh leaves higher up and it also aids when pulling roots out of the ground.Like other antelopes (and cattle the which They are too closely related), the Bongo has a four-chambered ruminating stomach to help it to break down the cellulose That the plants contain. Food passes through Their digestive system is very SLOWLY in comparison to other Mammals to maximise the nutritional intake.
Bongo Predators and Threats
Bongos are prey to Numerous large predators in their surrounding environments with Leopards Their most common being natural threat along with Lions in Certain areas. The young calves are also vulnerable to predation from Hyenas Pythons and throughout much of Their natural range. Another big threat to Bongos is the fact That They are particularly susceptible to disease, with the entire population having been nearly wiped out in the late 1800s. They are however, at the biggest risk from people WHO do not just hunt them both directly and by setting Snares but also have obliterated much of the vast natural range Their one through deforestation to both the make way for agriculture and to gather tropical woods for the timber industry.
Bongo Interesting Facts and Features
They Although growing niche to be most active Between dusk and dawn, Bongos are known to occasionally browse during the day but will never leave the dense vegetation That surrounds them. To help them to cool down in the heat, Bongos wallow in mud the which They then rub onto a tree as a way of polishing Their smooth and heavy horns. Despite being hunted for food in many areas, in others there is a great deal of Superstition surrounding the Bongo by the native people.Some believe That not only eating but just touching Bongo will cause the individual to have spasms and They are therefore not too affected by hunting in these places.
Bongo Relationship with Humans
In many areas throughout Their natural range, Bongos have been hunted by people for meat Became a prize but also a target for big-game trophy hunters the which devastated local Populations. The biggest impact people That have had on the Bongo though is the fact That the vast areas of Their natural habitats have disappeared to the make room for agriculture and grazing for livestock to Provide. Increasing closeness to Humans This has led to outbreaks of disease in Bongos, along with severe population declines due to Their dwindling habitats and therefore, an Increasing lack of both food and forest cover Suitable Heavily rely on the which Bongos.
They Although growing niche to be most active Between dusk and dawn, Bongos are known to occasionally browse during the day but will never leave the dense vegetation That surrounds them. To help them to cool down in the heat, Bongos wallow in mud the which They then rub onto a tree as a way of polishing Their smooth and heavy horns. Despite being hunted for food in many areas, in others there is a great deal of Superstition surrounding the Bongo by the native people.Some believe That not only eating but just touching Bongo will cause the individual to have spasms and They are therefore not too affected by hunting in these places.
Bongo Relationship with Humans
In many areas throughout Their natural range, Bongos have been hunted by people for meat Became a prize but also a target for big-game trophy hunters the which devastated local Populations. The biggest impact people That have had on the Bongo though is the fact That the vast areas of Their natural habitats have disappeared to the make room for agriculture and grazing for livestock to Provide. Increasing closeness to Humans This has led to outbreaks of disease in Bongos, along with severe population declines due to Their dwindling habitats and therefore, an Increasing lack of both food and forest cover Suitable Heavily rely on the which Bongos.
Bongo Conservation Status and Life Today
Today, the Bongo is listed by the IUCN as an animal That Is Near Threatened by extinction from the wild in the near future. Although the Mountain Bongo has always been rare it is feared That Could there be as few as only 75 individuals left in the highland forests of Kenya, where They are now protected. The Lowland Bongo is Becoming rarer in Western Africa Populations but although decreasing, REMAIN widespread throughout much of Their historical range in Central Africa.
Today, the Bongo is listed by the IUCN as an animal That Is Near Threatened by extinction from the wild in the near future. Although the Mountain Bongo has always been rare it is feared That Could there be as few as only 75 individuals left in the highland forests of Kenya, where They are now protected. The Lowland Bongo is Becoming rarer in Western Africa Populations but although decreasing, REMAIN widespread throughout much of Their historical range in Central Africa.
Bongo Unique Facts Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: mammals Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Tragelaphus Scientific Name: Tragelaphus eurycerus Common Name: Bongo Other Name (s): Lowland Bongo, Bongo Mountain Group: Mammal Number Of Species: 2 Location: Western, Eastern and Central Africa Habitat: Dense forests and bamboo thickets Colour: Orange, Red, Chestnut, White, Brown, Black Skin Type: Fur Size (L): 1.7m - 2.5m (5.5ft - 8.25ft) Weight: 150kg - 220kg (330lbs - 484lbs) Top Speed: 70kph (43mph) Diet: Herbivore Prey: Leaves, Bark, Grasses Predators: Leopards, Hyenas, Lions Lifestyle: Diurnal Group Behaviour: Solitary / Herd Life Span: 10-18 years Age Of Sexual Maturity: 20-24 months Gestation Period: 9 months Average Litter Size: 1 Name Of Young: Calf Of Weaning Age: 6 months Conservation Status: Near Threatened Estimated Population Size: 28.000 Biggest Threat: Habitat loss Most Distinctive Feature: 10-15 white stripes on body Fun Fact: Long and heavy spiraled horns!
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