Mountain Reedbuck

Redunca fulvorufula

Description

The mountain reedbuck is a large terrestrial bovid with has gray-brown hair on the body with white undersides and a rufous neck. This species has dark scent patches under the ears. Male mountain reedbucks have short curved horns and typically weigh about 30 kg with a shoulder height of about 70 cm. Female mountain reedbucks are smaller than males.

Habitat

There are three subspecies of this species which are found in three different geographic locations. The southern mountain reedbucks are located from Eastern Cape Province to southeastern Botswana. Chanler’s Mountain Reedbuck is found in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia and the West African mountain reedbuck are found only in Camroon. They  prefer hilly, broken terrain with a high ground cover of grasses.

Feeding Behavior and Diet

Mountain reedbucks are herbivorous, roughage grazers, meaning they consume only vegetation. This species prefers to graze on grasses but graze selectively to gain the highest nutrition.

Reproduction

Mountain reedbucks are polygynous, meaning the males mate with multiple females. Breeding season occurs throughout the year with a high level of breeding activity in the summer and autumn. Lambing season, when females give birth, tends to be during the summer rainy season. After mating and an 8 month gestation period females produce one offspring. Females are able to produce young every 9-14 months. Mountain reedbucks reach sexual maturity after 12 months.

Months and Times of Activity

This species can be active during any time of the day, feeding mostly in the early morning, evening and occasionally at night. They generally are found in groups of 6 or less individuals including one male, several females and juveniles. Young males typically form bachelor groups outside of the herd.

Special Features, Stories, Relationships

•    Mountain reedbucks are considered a challenge for humans to hunt and therefore populations of this species has not suffered from the impacts of hunting. This species is an important prey or food source for lions, leopards, wild dogs, jackals, and caracal. Sometimes mountain reedbucks are predated by baboons.
•    To read legends featuring this animal go to; http://books.google.com/books?id=4Br7j3HrKpMC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=folklore+AND++reedbuck&source=bl&ots=0Vc258ofGF&sig=8kaT1oDc4LNkJVgKwx2VitwUDDc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YFlLUaudN9O20AG05oGACA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=folklore%20AND%20%20reedbuck&f=false
•    Children’s book featuring this animal: Do Antelope Eat Cantaloupe? By Leigh Leegre

References

Steinke, A. 2004. "Redunca fulvorufula" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 04, 2014 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Redunca_fulvorufula/