NO. 8 NEW AFRICAN UNGULATES — HELLER 15 



As a single character, the shape of the horns is certainly the most 

 reliable guide to the natural affinities of the various species. A 

 careful study of the skulls, however, reveals some important differ- 

 ences between species which have hitherto been combined in the 

 same genus on account of horn resemblances solely. The genus of 

 the Kudus, Strepsiceros, is an instance of this sort. The Lesser 

 Kudu, Strepsiceros inberbis, is, without doubt, as closely allied to 

 the bushbuck, Tragelaphus as to the Greater Kudu, as regards its 

 skull characters and pattern of coloration. It is a geographical 

 associate of both genera, and deserves recognition as a separate 

 genus in order to emphasize its true relationships. The Nyala, 

 Tragelaphus angasi, is another species which must also be accorded 

 distinct generic rank. Here, however, we have to do with a species 

 showing almost identical horn characters, with Tragelaphus, but 

 differing distinctly in skull-characters, pattern of coloration and 

 habits. 



AMMELAPHUS, new genus 



Type; Strepsiceros imberbis Blyth. 



Characters. — Lachrymal-nasal sinus wide and rectangular in 

 shape ; premaxillae long, three-fourths length of nasal bones lachry- 

 mal with a long acute projection following the nasal bones ; maxil- 

 lary border of jugal long with a wide right angled notch below the 

 orbit ; supraorbital sinus small ; masseter knob on sides of maxillary 

 small ; anterior palatine foramina long; dorsal profile of snout raised 

 in a slight hump at posterior end of nasal bones ; horns narrowly 

 spiral with distinct annular rings ; male without throat mane, both 

 sexes with white throat and chest patches and transverse body 

 stripes. Strepsiceros differs by having a narrow triangular lachry- 

 mal nasal sinus, masseter knob greatly developed ; horns more openly 

 whorled and smoother with rings obsolete ; male with a heavy throat 

 mane and both sexes without white throat patches. 



Tragelaphus differs somewhat less from Ammelaphus in skull- 

 characters than Strepsiceros, the chief differences being shallower 

 nasal notches, larger lachrymal-nasal sinus, shorter premaxilke, less 

 deeply angulatecl maxillary-jugal suture, and smaller basioccipital 

 processes. In color-pattern, Tragelaphus differs from Ammelaphus 

 by its spotted coat and absence of transverse body stripes. The 

 horns of Tragelaphus are more openly whorled, have a distinct keel 

 and lack rinsrs. 



