Reedbuck

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Reedbuck
Bohor reedbuck (Redunca bohor)

Bohor reedbuck ( Redunca bohor )

Systematics
Subordination : Ruminants (ruminantia)
without rank: Forehead weapon bearer (Pecora)
Family : Horned Bearers (Bovidae)
Subfamily : Antilopinae
Tribe : Reduncini
Genre : Reedbuck
Scientific name
Redunca
Hamilton Smith , 1827

The reedbuck ( Redunca ) are a genus of African hornbeam (Bovidae), which are closely related to the waterbuck . The genus includes nine species.

features

Reedbucks reach a head trunk length of 1.1 to 1.6 meters, a shoulder height of 60 to 105 centimeters and a weight of 20 to 95 kilograms. Their fur color varies on the upper side from light brown to gray, the underside is white, as is the underside of the short, bushy tail. Only the males have horns , these are 20 to 40 centimeters long, curved upwards and pointed forward at the tip.

distribution and habitat

Reedbuck are native to Africa south of the Sahara , their distribution area ranges from Senegal and Ethiopia to South Africa . Their habitat is mainly savannahs and light forests.

Way of life

Reedbucks usually stay close to the water and are often found in reed belts, for example. However, they cannot swim well. They are predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal. The diet of these animals consists of grasses.

There are different statements about social behavior. Males often live solitary, their territory overlapping with that of one to five females; sometimes they are found in pairs. During the dry season, larger groups of up to 20 animals can form.

Reproduction

The mating can take place all year round, only in the south of their range do most births occur between December and May. After a seven to eight month gestation period, the female usually gives birth to a single young. At birth it secretes itself and raises the newborn alone for the first few months. Sexual maturity occurs at nine to 24 months.

Danger

Hunting represents the main danger for the reedbucks. Although they have become rare in some areas, none of the three species is threatened overall.

Systematics

The closest relatives of the reedbucks are the waterbucks , which are also bound to the water . Together with these and the deer antelope they form the tribe of the Reduncini within the family of the horned bearers (Bovidae).

Traditionally, three species were distinguished within the genus: large reedbuck , mountain reedbuck and common reedbuck . In an adaptation from 2011, the zoologists Colin Groves and Peter Grubb split this into nine species. As supporters of the phylogenetic species concept, they raised all populations to the species rank where they had succeeded in identifying morphological differences. Most of these populations were identified as subspecies by researchers following the biological species concept. In the Handbook of the Mammals of the World (co-edited by Colin Groves), which is widely regarded as binding , this classification has been adopted into nine types, although not all authors follow this concept. According to Groves and Grubb, the following nine types are distinguished:

  • Redunca redunca group
  • Redunca fulvorufula group

literature

  • Colin P. Groves and David M. Leslie Jr .: Family Bovidae (Hollow-horned Ruminants). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2: Hooved Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2011, ISBN 978-84-96553-77-4 , pp. 444-779
  • Ronald M. Nowak: Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
  • Colin Groves and Peter Grubb: Ungulate Taxonomy. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011, pp. 1-317 (pp. 184-189) ISBN 978-1-4214-0329-8
  • Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Thomas Butynski, Michael Hoffmann, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina: Mammals of Africa. Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013 ISBN 978-1-4081-2257-0 Genus Redunca pp. 421-436

Web links

Commons : Redunca  - collection of images, videos and audio files