Question 1

True or false: Nyala are primarily nocturnal, resting during the hottest part of the day.

Accepted Answer

True. They are most active at dawn, dusk, and during the night, avoiding midday heat by resting in shaded thickets.

Question 2

True or false: Male nyala have spiraled horns that can grow up to 30 inches long.

Accepted Answer

True. Males possess impressive, spiral-shaped horns reaching up to 83 cm (33 inches), used in dominance displays and fights.

Question 3

True or false: Nyala antelopes are native to the forests of southern Africa, not eastern Africa.

Accepted Answer

False. Nyala are actually found in southeastern Africa, mainly in Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa, but not in southernmost regions like the Cape.

Question 4

True or false: Female nyala are larger and heavier than males, a rare reversal in antelope size.

Accepted Answer

False. Males are significantly larger, weighing up to 125 kg, while females are smaller, around 55–68 kg.

Question 5

True or false: Nyala calves are born without spots, unlike many other forest antelope young.

Accepted Answer

False. Nyala calves are actually born with a camouflaged coat of spots and stripes, which fade as they mature.

Question 6

True or false: Nyala are the only antelope species where both sexes have vertical white stripes on their bodies.

Accepted Answer

True. Unlike many antelope, both male and female nyala have distinct vertical white stripes, though males are darker and more shaggy.

Question 7

True or false: The nyala's closest relative is the giant eland, found in open savannas.

Accepted Answer

False. Nyala are more closely related to the bushbuck and kudu, not the giant eland, which belongs to a different antelope tribe.

Question 8

True or false: Nyala have a specialized gland on their hooves that leaves a scent trail for the herd.

Accepted Answer

True. They possess interdigital glands between their hooves that secrete a scent, helping them communicate and stay together in dense brush.

Nyala Trivia Questions