Appearance
How to Recognise the Red Lechwe
Adult red lechwe stand 90–100 cm (35–39 in) at the shoulder and weigh 50–120 kg (110–260 lb), with males larger than females. Their coats are golden brown with white underbellies, while males darken with age and may show blackish tones on the legs and chest depending on subspecies.
Only males grow horns. These horns are long, spiral-shaped and slightly lyre-like, curving in smooth arcs. In addition, lechwe have proportionally longer hind legs than most antelopes. This build helps them move efficiently across marshy ground and maintain speed in wetlands.
Habitat
Where Red Lechwe Live and How They Form Herds
Red lechwe inhabit marshes, floodplains and shallow wetlands. Because they rely on aquatic vegetation, they feed on grasses and water plants found in permanently or seasonally flooded areas. Meanwhile, knee-deep water serves as protection, as predators struggle to follow them into soft, waterlogged terrain.
Their legs are coated with a water-repellent substance, allowing them to run at impressive speeds even when submerged to the knee. Red lechwe are diurnal and gather in large herds. These groups may include many thousands of animals. Herds are usually separated by sex; however, they mix during mating season.
Behaviour
Breeding Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Lechwe breed during the rainy months from November to February. Gestation lasts seven to eight months, so most calves are born from July to September, when conditions are favourable for growth and survival.
Calves join nursery groups within the larger herd, while males form their own groups outside the breeding season. Although unusual, hybrids between lechwe and waterbuck have been documented. This occurs only in rare circumstances, yet it shows the ecological overlap between the two species in certain regions.
