Topi
Damaliscus lunatus jimela
A rich reddish-brown antelope famous for standing sentinel on termite mounds.
| Scientific name | Damaliscus lunatus jimela |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Nyamera |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Size | Shoulder height about 100-130 cm, weight about 75-160 kg; males heavier |
How to identify
Glossy dark reddish-brown coat with bluish-grey patches on the face and upper legs; short, backward-curving ringed horns; shoulders higher than hindquarters
Habitat
Savanna, seasonally flooded grassland and open plains
Diet
Mainly a grazer of fresh grasses, preferring medium-height grass
When it is active
Diurnal, most active at dawn and dusk
Where it lives
East and Central Africa; especially common in Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti
How to spot it
Look for individuals standing sentinel on termite mounds or earthen hummocks — a distinctive, easily recognised pose; common along the edges of open grassland
Photography tips
Use its elevated stance on a mound for silhouettes or backlight; morning and evening light brings out the glossy coat and bluish patches
Threats
Habitat degradation, competition with livestock, and poaching
Similar species
Hartebeest (paler, without bluish face patches); wildebeest (bulkier, with a beard)
