WATERBUCK


The 'Waterbuck' (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus'') is an antelope found in Western, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.
Waterbuck stand 100 to 130 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 160 to 240 kilograms. Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they also have a white 'bib' under their throats and a white ring on their rumps surrounding their tails. The waterproofing secretions of the waterbuck's sweat glands produces an unpleasant odor in its meat. The long spiral structured horns, found only in males, sweep back and up.
Waterbuck are found in scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass. Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators. Waterbuck are diurnal. Females gather in herds of between two and six hundred individuals. Males keep territories of around three hundred acres (1.2 km²) during their prime. They usually lose their territories before the age of ten.
The 'Defassa Waterbuck' is a subspecies (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa'') in which the ring on the rump is solid white.

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★ Animals Online encyclopedia

African Wildlife Foundation
Female DeFassa Waterbuck, Kafue, Zambia

Male Waterbuck, 16 November 2004, Kruger National Park, South Africa


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