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Lechwe - KOBUS LECHE
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Lechwe": "Lechwe" is an unknown word, but possibly an African word for the animal.
Location: Southern Africa.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Marshy terrain near rivers and lakes.
Description:The coat is rather long and rough. The male's is dark, almost black, while the female's is reddish, The horns, found only on males, are long, slender, and lyre-shaped. The hooves are long and narrow. The hindquarters are noticeably higher than the shoulders. The lechwe reaches almost six feet long, about 42 inches at the shoulder, and weighs up to 270 pounds.
Behavior:The lechwe feeds on grass and marsh and aquatic plants. It spends much of the day in shallow water. If disturbed it runs at great speed, with impressive leaps, and takes refuge in water since it is a good swimmer. It gathers in large herds, which can number thousands. During the mating season (October through January) the sexes mix in the herd. After that period they form separate herds. The lechwe is preyed on by cheetahs, lions, leopards, wild dogs, and large birds.
Reproduction: The gestation period lasts for 7 to 8 months, after which the female gives birth to a single young.
Note:Once numerous, this species has had its numbers reduced to just a few thousand, living mainly in national parks.
Go to the Artiodactyla Page to learn more about all the even-toed hoofed animals.
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