Lechwe belong to a family of African antelope known as Reduncines. Nile lechwe are native to the floodplains of the Nile River Valley. Most of the wild population lives in southern Sudan, with the remaining in western Ethiopia. Find out more!

One of the most obvious physical adaptations to their watery environment is their long hooves. Compared to other antelope species that prefer dry land, Nile lechwe have long, slender hooves. These hooves help them walk or run through their swampy, muddy home.

While these long hooves are helpful for moving through the water, on dry land Nile lechwe tend to look clumsy. Male Nile lechwe also go to the water to fight, often submerging their locked heads.

Herd size for Nile lechwe can be from 50 to hundreds of individuals, depending on how much space is available. Both male and female Nile lechwe are social, with males often teaming up to chase other males away from the herd.

Adult male Nile lechwe mark the shaggy “beard” running down their neck with urine. This declares their status to other males and females. It takes the male a lot of practice to mark himself in this unique way!