Quick stats of the Reedbuck

• Diet: - Herbivore
• Shoulder Height: - 0.9 m
• Weight: - Male - 73 kg
• Weight: - Female - 64 kg
• Lifespan - 12 years

Description

Southern reedbuck or common reedbuck are found in tall grass or reeds near water. This cautious antelope depends on surrounding foliage for camouflage. Lions, cheetahs, and leopards are some of the reedbuck’s preditors.

The southern reedbuck is similar to the mountain reedbuck, except that it is larger and its horns are longer. They also have a small black spot below their ears.

Reedbuck live either alone or in pairs. Sometimes large herds occur during the winter months. They prefer to lie in grass or reed beds in the heat of the day and feed during cooler hours of sunrise and sunset, or sometimes even at night.
When alarmed, the reedbuck will stand still, attempting to camouflage itself. If spotted, it will give a sharp whistle through its nostrils and leap away in a ‘rocking horse’ motion - similar to the rhebok.

They breed throughout the year. After a gestation period of 8 months, they give birth to a single calf.

Other Names for the Reedbuck

• Common Reedbuck
• Rietbok

Distribution

Distribution map of the Southern Reedbuck

Taxonomy of the Reedbuck

• Order - Artiodactyla
• Family - Bovidae
• Sub Family - Reduncinae
• Genus - Redunca
• Species - Redunca arundinum