Editing Common eland (section)

==Ecology and behavior==
[[File:Taurotragus oryx (herd).jpg|thumb|Common elands resting in herds]]
Common elands are [[nomad]]ic and [[crepuscular]]. They eat in the morning and evening, rest in shade when hot, and remain in sunlight when cold. They are commonly found in herds numbering up to 500, with individual members remaining in the herd from several hours to several months. Juveniles and mothers tend to form larger herds, while males may separate into smaller groups or wander individually. During [[Estrus cycle|estrus]], mainly in the rainy season, groups tend to form more regularly.<ref name = Pappas/> In Southern Africa, common elands will often associate with herds of [[zebra]]s, [[roan antelope]]s and [[oryx]]es.<ref name = Burton>{{cite book | last = Burton | first = RM | title = International wildlife encyclopedia | year = 2002 | publisher = [[Marshall Cavendish]] | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-7614-7266-7 | pages = [https://books.google.com/books?id=0gsPc5lk7_UC&pg=PA757 757–9] | edition = 3rd | chapter = Eland }}</ref>

Common elands communicate via gestures, vocalizations, [[Olfaction|scent cues]], and [[Display (zoology)|display behaviors]]. The [[flehmen response]] also occurs, primarily in males in response to contact with female urine or genitals. Females urinate to indicate fertility during the appropriate phase of their estrous cycle, as well as to indicate their lack of fertility when harassed by males.<ref name = Pappas/> If eland bulls find any of their predators nearby, they bark and attempt to attract the attention of others by trotting back and forth until the entire herd is conscious of the danger.<ref name=Burton/> Some of their main [[predator]]s include [[lion]]s, [[African wild dog]]s, [[cheetah]]s, and [[spotted hyena]]s. Eland calves are more vulnerable than adults to their predators.<ref name = Pappas/>

===Diet=== 
[[File:Elands Thoiry 19802.jpg|thumb|right|Elands are mainly grazers.]]
Common elands are [[herbivore]]s that [[Browsing (herbivory)|browse]] during drier winter, but have also adapted to [[grazing]] during the rainy season when grasses are more common and nutritious.<ref name = Pappas/> They require a high-[[protein]] diet of [[succulent plant|succulent]] leaves from [[flowering plant]]s, but will consume lower-quality plant material if available, including [[forb]]s, trees, shrubs, grasses, seeds, and tubers.<ref name = Pappas/><ref name = "adw"/><ref name="thinkquest1">{{cite web | url = http://library.thinkquest.org/16645/wildlife/common_eland.shtml | title = The Living Africa: Wildlife – Bovid Family – Common Eland | publisher = Library.thinkquest.org | access-date = 2012-04-09 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120217221335/http://library.thinkquest.org/16645/wildlife/common_eland.shtml | archive-date = 2012-02-17 }}</ref> Grasses that elands eat include ''[[Setaria]]'' and ''[[Themeda]]'' and fruits from ''[[Securinega]]'' and ''[[Strychnos]]''. Large antelope can survive on lower-quality food in times of little rain. <!-- repeat Elands feed during the night in hot weather and sleep for long periods during the day. -->

Most of their water is obtained from their food, though they drink water when available.<ref name = Pappas/> As they quickly adjust to the surroundings due to seasonal changes and other causes, they change their feeding habits. They also use their horns to break off branches that are hard to reach.<ref name=rafferty>{{cite book|editor-last=Rafferty|editor-first=John P.|title=Grazers|year=2010|publisher=Britannica Educational Pub.|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-1-61530-465-3|pages = [https://books.google.com/books?id=m-zX8zBKogAC&pg=PA77 77–8] | edition = 1st |chapter=Elands, Antelopes}}</ref>

=== Thermoregulation ===
Common elands have several thermoregulatory adaptations to help them withstand the extreme temperatures of their environments. Using peripheral thermal receptors on the skin, elands can sense heat and increase or decrease evaporative cooling accordingly.<ref name="Finch-1972">{{Cite journal |last=Finch |first=Va |date=1972-06-01 |title=Thermoregulation and heat balance of the East African eland and hartebeest |url=https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1972.222.6.1374 |journal=American Journal of Physiology. Legacy Content |volume=222 |issue=6 |pages=1374–1379 |doi=10.1152/ajplegacy.1972.222.6.1374 |pmid=5030193 |issn=0002-9513|url-access=subscription }}</ref> On sunnier days, common elands maintain a cooler skin temperature relative to their inner body temperature.<ref name="Finch-1972" /> Elands achieve cooler skin temperatures by increasing cutaneous [[evaporation]]. This allows them to feel cooler, even though their internal body temperature stays relatively the same throughout the day. The eland can also conserve water by increasing its body temperature.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Taylor |first=Cr |date=1969-07-01 |title=Metabolism, respiratory changes, and water balance of an antelope, the eland |url=https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1969.217.1.317 |journal=American Journal of Physiology. Legacy Content |volume=217 |issue=1 |pages=317–320 |doi=10.1152/ajplegacy.1969.217.1.317 |pmid=5785895 |issn=0002-9513|url-access=subscription }}</ref> When temperatures rise above a certain threshold, an increase in [[sweating]] and panting is also observed.<ref name="Finch-1972" /> Common elands use their sparse fur coats to dissipate excess heat via reradiation.<ref name="Finch-1972" /> The [[dewlap]] is also believed to play a role in thermoregulation.<ref name="Bro-Jørgensen-2016">{{Cite journal |last=Bro-Jørgensen |first=Jakob |date=December 2016 |title=Evolution of the ungulate dewlap: thermoregulation rather than sexual selection or predator deterrence? |journal=Frontiers in Zoology |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=33 |doi=10.1186/s12983-016-0165-x |issn=1742-9994 |pmc=4949748 |pmid=27437025 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Due to its high surface area to volume ratio, it may allow for efficient thermoregulation in larger common elands with larger dewlaps.<ref name="Bro-Jørgensen-2016" />

===Sociability and reproduction===
[[File:Aa knowsley 2elandsfighting.jpg|thumb|right|Two male elands fighting over [[Dominance (ethology)|dominance]], [[Knowsley Safari Park]]]]
Females are [[sexual maturity|sexually mature]] at 15 to 36 months and males at 4 to 5 years. [[Mating]] may occur anytime after reaching sexual maturity, but is mostly seen in the rainy season. In Zambia, young are born in July and August, while elsewhere this is the mating season.<ref name="adw"/> Mating begins when elands gather to feed on lush, green plains with plentiful grass, and some males and females start mating with each other in separate pairs. Males chase the females to find out if they are in [[estrus]]. They also test the female's urine. Usually, a female chooses the most dominant and fit male to mate with. Sometimes, she runs away from males trying to mate, causing more attraction. This results in fights between males, in which their hard horns are used. A female allows a male to mount after two to four hours. Males usually keep close contact with females in the mating period.<ref name="thinkquest1"/> The dominant male can mate with more than one female.<ref name="adw"/> Females have a [[gestation]] period of nine months, and give birth to only one calf each time.<ref name=uu>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Taurotragus_oryx.html |title=Taurotragus oryx (Common eland)-Ontogeny and Reproduction |publisher=Ultimateungulate.com |access-date=5 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109233047/http://ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Taurotragus_oryx.html |archive-date=9 January 2011 }}</ref>

Males, females, and juveniles each form separate social groups. The male groups are the smallest; the members stay together and search for food or water sources. The female group is much larger and covers greater areas.<ref name="adw"/> They travel the grassy plains in wet periods and prefer bushy areas in dry periods. Females have a complex [[linear hierarchy]]. The nursery and juvenile group is naturally formed when females give birth to calves. After about 24 hours of the delivery, the mother and calf join this group. The calves start befriending each other and stay back in the nursery group, while the mother returns to the female group. The calves leave the nursery group when they are at least two years old and join a male or female group.<ref name="uu"/>

===Diseases and parasites===
Common elands are resistant to [[trypanosomiasis]], a protozoan infection that has the [[tsetse fly]] as a [[Vector (epidemiology)|vector]], but not to the ''[[Rhipicephalus]]''-transmitted disease [[Tropical theileriosis|theileriosis]]. The disease-causing bacterium ''Theileria taurotragi'' has caused many eland deaths. ''[[Clostridium chauvoei]]'', another bacterium, can be harmful, as well. Elands are also hosts to several kinds of [[tick]]s. In one study, an eland was found to be host to the ''[[Amblyomma]]'' species ''A. gemma'' and ''A. variegatum'', and ''[[Rhipicephalus]]'' species ''R. decoloratus'', ''R. appendiculatus'', ''R. evertsi'', ''[[Rhipicephalus pulchellus|R. pulchellus]]'' and ''R. pravus''. Elands produce [[antibody|antibodies]] for ''[[Brucella]]'' bacteria, but none for ''[[Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis|Mycobacterium paratuberculosis]]'' or various types of [[pneumonia]] like contagious bovine pneumonia and contagious caprine pneumonia, normally infectious in cows or antelopes.<ref name=Pappas/>