Average Mass:
110 kg (240 lb)

Average Shoulder Height:
96 cm (38")

Rowland Ward:
55.57 cm (21 7/8 ")

SCI:
54 Points

Track: 70mm (2 3/4") x 51mm (2")

Distribution is Lake Bangweulu in Zambia and Katanga Province in Zaire.

Coat is dark brown fawn over the body and outside of the legs. Belly, neck and inside of legs are white. The horns, found only on males, are long, slender, and lyre-shaped. The hooves are long and narrow. The hindquarters are noticeably higher than the shoulders.

The lechwe feeds on grass and marsh and aquatic plants. It spends much of the day in shallow water. If disturbed it runs at great speed, with impressive leaps, and takes refuge in water since it is a good swimmer. It gathers in large herds, which can number thousands. During the mating season (October through January) the sexes mix in the herd. After that period they form separate herds. The lechwe is preyed on by cheetahs, lions, leopards, wild dogs, and large birds.

The gestation period lasts for 7 to 8 months, after which the female gives birth to a single young.

Once numerous, this species has had its numbers reduced to just a few thousand, living mainly in national parks.