Waterbuck ( Kobus ellipsiprymnus )
Waterbuck - Waterbuck information - Waterbuck facts, pictures, photos
Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a mammal, antelope, at the order of Artiodactyla and family Bovidae. It lives mostly in the central and eastern Africa (but also western and southern), in scrub, savanna and woodlands, near water. Their diet consists of grass, reeds and leaves.
Its body is usually long from 180 to 220 centimetres plus tail (22 – 45 cm). Its height at the shoulders is 100 to 130 cm and the weight ranges from 150 to 250 kg. Waterbuck body is heavyset, with the shaggy, coarse coat of reddish brown to grizzled grey colour. Black legs are strong. It has white muzzle and cream-coloured “bib” on the throat. The most conspicuous feature of this antelope is a large while “halo” that surrounds the base of the tail on the rump. Males have horns– they grow 55 – 100 cm long and they sweep in an arc backwards and upwards, with the tips pointing forwards.
Waterbucks’ family can be only female, only male or mixed and have up to 30 animals, with distinct social hierarchy based on size and strength. At 6 or 7 males become territorial, but they lose their territories about the age of ten.
Live span of waterbucks is up to 18 years. Females reach sexual maturity at 12 – 14 months, males at 14 – 18 months. The gestation period is 8,5 to 9 months and usually one (rarely two) young is born, during the wetter season (April, November). After birth, the young lie concealed and away from their mothers for at least 2 weeks. After joining the herd, the young follow their mother, who raises her tail as a "follow me" signal. Mother weans the young after 6 or 7 months of nursing.
|
