The eland is the largest of the African antelope species, males reaching 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 1500 lbs. Both males and females have straight, screw-like horns that can grow to 3 feet long. A flap of skin called a dewlap hangs down at the front of the neck, and bears a tuft of hair on the end of it. They are found in small herds in open habitats of east Africa.
Ostrich
These easily recognizable creatures are the world's largest birds. Because
their wing muscles are not strong enough to support their weight, ostriches
cannot fly. Adult males, which can weigh as much as 350 lbs. and can grow
to eight feet tall, are distinguished by their black feathers. Females
and immature male ostriches have dull gray feathers.
Wildebeest
An unusual member of the antelope family is the wildebeest, also known as the gnu. Due to their muscular shoulders and thin legs, they have a top-heavy appearance. There is a fringe of hair on their chests, and their faces are strongly whiskered. Their horns curve out over their ears and turn sharply upward at the ends. Wildebeest dominate the plains and acacia savannas of southeastern Africa, where they feed on short grasses.
Waterbuck
These large, shaggy brown antelope are easily recognized from the rear by the target-like white circles on their rumps. Waterbuck rove in small herds in grassy or lightly wooded areas of central Africa. The most water dependent of all the antelope species, they are never found far from the edge of a marsh or river.
Mouflon
The mouflon is thought to be one of two original ancestors of all modern day sheep. It originated on the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Cyprus, but has recently been introduced in much of Europe. Like most wild sheep, the mouflon lives in mountainous terrain, usually above the tree line or in mountain meadows. In Corsica it lives on steep-sided rocky peaks, where it is protected from predators.
A mouflon is about the size of a medium sheep with a weight range of 55-120 pounds. They are 3-4 feet long, and stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulders. They have a rough coat, and during the winter grow a woolly under coat that keeps them warm.
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