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Bushbuck

Tragelaphus scriptus

Description - Other Names - Distribution - Taxonomy

Quick stats

• Diet: - Herbivore
• Shoulder Height: - 0.9m
• Weight: - Male - 54 kg
• Weight: - Female - 33 kg
• Lifespan - 12 years

Description

Bushbuck are widespread, living individually or in groups of two or three. Their habitat is thick bush and lush riverine forests which adjoin most of the more permanent rivers. They are shy and secretive, and rarely spend more than a few moments in full view before disappearing with quiet stealth into the undergrowth which conceals them from admiring eyes.

Bushbuck are attractive, medium-sized antelope. They are often difficult to see because of their colouration which blends into the shade with the stripes and spots breaking their body outline.

Although individual markings vary, males tend to have white marks on the neck, legs and flanks, overlaid on a dark brown background colour. Females have similar markings, but their coats are usually not as dark as those of the males, and vary from fawn to a rich red-brown. Males have short pointed horns, usually less than 300 millimeters long, twisted in a light spiral.

They breed throughout the year. A single calf is born after a gestation period of 6-7 months.

Other Names

• Bosbok

Distribution

Distribution map
of the
Bushbuck

Taxonomy

• Order - Artiodactyla
• Family - Bovidae
• Sub Family - Bovinae
• Genus - Tragelaphus
• Species - Tragelaphus scriptus

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