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Western Bongo
Western Bongo

Average Mass:
230 kg (506 lb)

Average Shoulder Height:
133 cm (52")

Rowland Ward:
68.58 cm (27")

SCI:
70 Points

Western Bongo Spoor

Track: 95mm (3 3/4") x 48mm (1 7/8")

Western Bongo Distribution

The bongo is distributed discontinuously in western and central Africa , and in some separate populations in East Africa

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

Dense tropical jungles with dense undergrowth up to an altitude of 4,000 m / 12,800 ft in central Africa, with isolated populations in Kenya, and western Africa.

The species inhabits lowland, montane and gallery forests; it can also be found in forest patches within forest/savanna mosaic areas (East, 1988, 1990; Haltenorth & Diller, 1980).

Because it is the only spiral-horned antelope (tragelaphid) in which both sexes have horns, the classification of the bongo has been quite difficult.  Since its description it has been placed with the elands under the genus Taurotragus, and has had its own genus Boocercus.  However, most mammalogist currently support the bongo's position in the genus Tragelaphus.

Bongo is an African native name.  Tragos (Greek) a he-goat;.elaphos (Greek) a deer; in combination referring to an antelope.  Eurus (Greek) broad, widespread;  keras (Greek) the horn of an animal.