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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
defassa
waterbuck |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Bovidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Kobus
(native African name) ellipsiprymnus defassa;
defassa represents sub-species |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
defassa waterbuck is a large, robust animal with
long, shaggy hair and a brown-gray coat that emits
an oily secretion from its sweat glands, which acts
as a water repellant. It also has large, rounded
ears and white patches above the eyes, and around
the nose and mouth and throat. The common waterbuck
has a conspicuous white ring encircling a dark rump,
while the defassa has wide white patches on either
side of the rump. |
| MALE |
Males
are generally about 25% larger than the females.
Only males have horns, prominently ringed and as
long as 100 cm (40 in.). The horns are widely spaced
and curve gracefully back and up. |
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| SIZE: |
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| MALE |
Shoulder
height of males about 125 cm (4.2 ft.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
148.5-225
kg (330-500 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
coarse grasses seldom eaten by other grazing animals
and occasionally browse leaves from certain trees
and bushes |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 280 days |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2.5-3
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 18 years |
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| RANGE: |
South
of the Sahara |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
areas close to water in savanna grasslands, gallery
forests and riverine woodlands. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Lower
Risk/Conservation Dependent |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Despite its name, the waterbuck is not actually
aquatic. Rather, they are frequently found in the
vicinity of rivers and lakes. They will often venture
into the water to escape predators. |
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| 2. |
Within all of the species in this genus, the waterbuck
spends the least amount of time in wet areas, often
venturing out into woodlands. |
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| 3. |
These antelope are sedentary animals. Waterbucks
do not migrate or move great distances, so territories
are usually held year round. Like some other antelopes,
the male does not mark his territory with dung or
urine; his presence and smell are sufficient. |
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| 4. |
When
the defessa and common waterbucks have bordering
ranges they often interbreed; as a result, some
scientists consider the two groups as a single species
instead of two separate species was they are referred
to by others researchers. |
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| 5. |
At
7-9 months, males are driven from their maternal
family and join up with a bachelor herd. These groups
have a distinct social hierarchy based on size and
strength, and contests are frequent. Around 6 to
7 years, males become territorial, defending them
against mature rivals with posturing and fights.
These territories are maintained throughout the
year, but a male is generally overthrown before
he reaches 10 years of age. |
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Due to their dependency on the reed beds and shrub
growth for foraging in wetland habitats, water development
projects such as damming and rerouting water for
hydroelectric power in some regions pose a possible
threat to waterbuck.
Their grassland habitat is also being reduced due
to habitat destruction for agricultural development.
Most waterbuck species have experienced declining
numbers due to uncontrolled hunting.
Antelope are important to their habitats as grazers
and browsers. They are also important as prey for
carnivores such as lions, leopards, wild dogs, and
spotted hyena. |
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|
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Nowak, R. M. Walker's Mammals of the World Fifth
Ed.. Vol. II, Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991. |
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Parker, S.P. Grzimek's Encyclopedia: Mammals.
Vol. 5, New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company,
1990. |
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Spinage, C.A. The Natural History of Antelope.
New York: Facts on File Publications, 1986.
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| African
Wildlife Foundation. www.awf.org/wildlives |
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