Red lechwes are easily identified by their rust-colored hides, black stripes, unusual horns and long hind legs, which help them graze in water up to 2 feet deep.  Males are darker than females and only males have horns.  The horns are long, spiral-structured and are vaguely lyre-shaped.  The lechwe is extremely adapted to water and leaps through the water when it is too shallow in which to swim.