Common tsessebe

Description

The topi, sassaby, tiang or tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus) is a large African antelope of the genus Damaliscus and subfamily Alcelaphinae in the family Bovidae, with a number of recognised geographic subspecies.Some authorities have split the different populations of the species into different species,although this is seen as controversial. The common tsessebe or sassaby (Damaliscus lunatus lunatus) is the southern, nominate form of these subspecies, although some authorities have recognised it as an independent species. It is most closely related to the Bangweulu tsessebe, sometimes also seen as a separate species,less to the topi, korrigum, coastal topi and tiang subspecies of D. lunatus, and less to the bontebok in the same genus.Common tsessebe are found in Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and South Africa. Common tsessebe are one of the fastest antelopes in Africa and can run at speeds up to 90 km/h Adult topi are 150 to 230 cm in length. They are quite large animals, with males weighing 137 kg and females weighing 120 kg, on average.Their horns range from 37 cm for females to 40 cm for males. For males, horn size plays an important role in territory defence and mate attraction, although horn size is not positively correlated with territorial factors of mate selection. Their bodies are chestnut brown or reddish brown. They have a mask-like dark colouration on the face and their tail tufts are black; the upper forelimbs and thighs have greyish, dark purple or bluish-black-coloured patches.Their hindlimbs are brownish-yellow to yellow and their bellies are white. In the wild, topi usually live a maximum of 15 years, but in general, their average lifespan is much less. Topi spoor is very similar to that of oryx and hartebeest. The tracks are about 8 cm in length, the two impressed hooves are narrow and point inward distally, and the base of the hooves are bulbous and more deeply indented into the soil than the rest of the track Topi are primarily found in grasslands, treeless open plains, and lightly wooded savannas. They prefer flat lowlands but they are also occasionally found in rolling uplands (for example in Rwanda), and are very rarely seen at higher altitudes than 1500m above sea level. In ecotone habitats between woodlands and open grasslands, they stay along the edge using the shade in hot weather. Topi use vantage points, such as termite mounds, to get a good look at their surroundings.