See text The tribe Tragelaphini (sometimes referred to by some authors as "Strepsicerotini"[2][3]), or the spiral-horned antelopes, are bovines that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.

They are medium-to-large, tall, long-legged antelopes characterized by their iconic twisted horns and striking pelage coloration patterns (most common is the distinctive white, vertical barring).

[5][6][1] Spiral-horned antelopes are browsers, found in a wide variety of environments both arid and humid, including semi-deserts, savannas, rainforests and mountains.

Considered among the most beautiful and charismatic bovids, the various species of spiral-horned antelopes are popular in zoos and game reserves.

[9] The two eland species have been ranched as alternatives to cattle, being hardy in extreme environments, relatively placid in character, and nutritionally superior as a meat source.

The alternative name "Strepsicerotini" was published by another British zoologist John Edward Gray as "Strepsiceriae" earlier in 1846.

However, "Strepsiceriae" had the incorrect prefix and suffix, which this was corrected to "Strepsicerotini" in 1945 by American paleontologist George Gaylord Simpson.

[16][15][4] There are also some morphological support for oxen being the closet living relatives to the spiral-horned antelopes, most notably both groups have horn cores with a pedicle (the attachment point to the skull).

[17] There has been a few studies which have supported alternate arrangements,[18][19][20] one being a sister relationship between the nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and the spiral-horned antelopes.

[2] Benirschke et al. (1980) worked on karyotypes with the lesser kudu and found them to share with the nilgai an X chromosome fused with autosome 14.

[22] The majority of other molecular and morphological work do not support the placement of the nilgai in Tragelaphini, as it contradicts with their data and results.

[8] The authors have found cladistic support of P. chryssomallos being the basal most tragelaphin (or at least a sister taxon to the group) based on 46 cranial features.

[8] The eastern European genus Pontoceros is another example, although this animal has been found in early Pleistocene beds of the Mygdonia basin.

[1] Fossils from Africa have been recovered in places such as Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, but they are sometimes consist of fragmented pieces of leg bone and horn.

[24] Below is the list of fossil species that have been described so far listed in alphabetical order:[8][23][24] Giant eland Common eland Greater kudu Mountain nyala Bongo Sitatunga Bushbuck Nyala Lesser kudu Traditionally the tribe was divided into two genera and seven species as shown below:[1] However recent molecular studies have shown a different arrangement.

[26] All species are found in a majority of sub-Saharan Africa in various woodland habitats such as rainforests, swamps, open savannahs, mountains, and sub-deserts.

In response to living in dense cover, spiral-horned antelopes are able to move through the thickett by bounding, rushing, and dodging through the vegetation.

The ultimate antipredator strategy is concealment in dense, tall bush, enough for the animal to perfectly camouflage in the vegetation.

[26] In general the herd size of spiral-horned antelopes are not large as they rarely exceed more than a few dozen individuals, and are mostly sedentary in nature.

It is currently believed to be the reason why some spiral-horned antelopes practicing herd as a defense mechanism to protect the young from predators.

The ancestral Y chromosome was subacrocentric but a pericentric inversion occurred making it submetacentric after the separation of the lesser kudu and nyala.

[28][29] Other hybrids have been documented, such as a male common eland x greater kudu resulting from an accidental crossing from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the 1970s.

[1][4] Most species are recognized by the IUCN Red List as "least concern", with only the giant eland and mountain nyala being classified as vulnerable[31] and endangered[32] respectively.

[13] In addition to being on farm as exotic livestock, elands as well as the other species of spiral-horned antelope have also been brought to private game reserves across the planet (in particular parts in North America and Africa) for recreational hunting.