Strepsicerotini

Strepsicerotini
Common Eland
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Tribe: Strepsicerotini
Genera

See text

Where the Boselaphini and Bovini are mostly Asian, members of the Strepsicerotini tribe, the spiral-horned antelopes, are found only on the continent of Africa. This group tends to large size, a lighter build, longer necks and considerable sexual dimorphism. Eight of the 10 species are of conservation concern, being classified as lower-risk, conservation dependent, the remaining two, the Common Eland and the Giant Eland are secure.

The above is considered the traditional taxonomy for the spiral-horned antelope group, but recently the relationships between the various species has changed somewhat. The Lesser Kudu is now considered the most basal member of the group followed by the Nyala, then the Greater Kudu, both species of Eland, and all other groups of Spiral-Horned Antelope group together. This has led to a change in taxonomy for several of the members of the group. Assuming that the Elands (Taurotragus) are a separate genus, which most biologists seem to agree on, then all the more basal members of the group are deserving of their own genus. What was considered two genera is now considered five.

Further, many of these new genera might have multiple species (i.e. Ammelaphus imberbis and Ammelaphus australis). [1] [2]

1. The Evolution of Artiodactyls by Donald R. Prothero and Scott E. Foss 2. Ungulate Taxonomy by Peter Grubb and Colin Groves


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