Zur type of the lyre-antelopes belongs the colorful-buck and its subtype, the Bleßbock, as well as the actual lyre-antelope (Damaliscus lunatus), who populates the western, eastern and southern Africa in 9 subtypes.
Physique The withers-height amounts to approximately 130 cm with a weight by 150 kg. Lyre-antelopes have a falling away back-line. The face appears long. The short, smooth fur has clear shine. Both sexes carry horns, whose form already the name of this antelope points out.
Habitat Lyre-antelopes live in open grassland with sprinkled in bushes and trees. they seem in both floodplains and in very dry steppes.
Way of life Outside the combination-time, lyre-antelopes form herds of 15-30 animals, who can unite to associations of several thousand in dry-periods. The hikes partially follow the moving forward rain-time. Otherwise, lyre-antelopes are location-loyal. Often, the type is in company of gnus, cow-antelopes, gazelles, ostriches and zebras, to find.
Lyre-antelopes are in the early morning - and late afternoon-hours active. In the midday-heat, they rest in the shadow.
As animal enemies, lion, leopard, comes cheetah, hyena-dogs and hyenas in consideration.
Reproduction The bucks form precincts, that they mark through the distribution of the secretion of the pre-eye-glands, through visiting certain excrement-places and through the "Wachestehen" at elevated points. Opposite other males, the territory is defended. Through throwing up the head, a buck threatens its rival. At the precinct-borders, fights with rivals, with what the arguing settle on its wrists, occur in order to fence with the horns.
Herds of females pass through the territories, a while and verpaaren linger for itself with the respective precinct-owner there conceivably. The buck introduces the combination-prelude through a parade in the Stechschritt with down-glum ears. With the drift, it beats a front-run between the hind legs of the female.
After 225-240 days of Tragzeit, a young is placed. It can already follow the mother shortly after the birth. Mother and young form own herds. The boys follow its mothers densely beside front or hind legs. With 2-3 years, lyre-antelopes are sexually mature. The bucks occupy an independent territory with 4 years.
Food Lyre-antelopes are grass-gluttons, that äsen also the dry stalks of higher grass spurned by other antelopes. On the occasion of is picked up herbs. they drink in the morning and in the evening, can lack the water also long time, however.
Continuance The lyre-antelope is not yet threatened in its continuance. Only one subtype, that is Hirola (Damaliscus lunatus hunteri), rare.
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