Mountain reedbuck
The mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) is a species of grazing antelope found primarily in the highland areas of central and eastern Africa, as well as parts of southern Africa. Characterized by their thick, woolly grayish-brown coats and red fur on their heads, necks, and the upper sides of their tails, these animals typically weigh between 66 and 70.5 pounds and measure about 25.5 to 35 inches in height. Unlike many other antelope, female mountain reedbucks are usually larger than males.
These animals are known for their sedentary behavior, often preferring to remain within a defined territory of roughly 10 square miles, where they are highly territorial. They primarily feed on grasses, leaves, and tender roots, thriving in environments with limited competition for food. Mountain reedbucks are also notable for their unique mating rituals and have a gestation period of about eight months, generally giving birth to one calf. While they can face predation from species such as lions and leopards, their tame nature often makes them less appealing to hunters. Overall, mountain reedbucks are not considered a threatened species and can live up to 12 years in the wild.
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Mountain reedbuck
The mountain reedbucks are so tame and easy to approach that hunters find them boring and too easy to catch. They are also sedentary animals, and do not like to stray far from home. This is a real problem when there is not much food in their territories. Mountain reedbucks can be found in different areas of Africa.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Redunca
Species: Fulvorufula
Mountain reedbucks are grazing antelope. They have thick, woolly, grayish brown coats. They have a red coloring on the fur of their heads, necks, and on the upperside of their tails. The males have horns that grow to about eight inches (20 centimeters). Mountain reedbucks grow to about 25 1/2 to 35 inches (65 to 89 centimeters) and have a head and body length of between 39 1/2 and 53 1/2 inches (100 to 136 centimeters). They weigh between 66 and 70 1/2 pounds (30 to 32 kilograms). Unlike most antelope the female mountain reedbucks generally weigh a little more than the males.
Mountain reedbucks live alone or in pairs on the highland areas of central and eastern Africa and parts of southern Africa. They are sedentary, which means they do not like to stray far from known ground. They are also very territorial, marking their 10 square mile (30 square kilometer) areas with a series of sharp whistles as they patrol territorial borders.
Mountain reedbucks are herbivores, or non-meat-eating animals. They like grasses, leaves, twigs, and the tender roots and shoots of various plants. Though the quality of their food is not very good due to the roughness of the ground, they have little competition for it from other animals. Unfortunately, their fear of traveling prevents them from looking for food outside of their territories. Since water is often scarce in these areas, the mountain reedbucks are lucky that they can survive for long periods of time without any water.
When fleeing from a predator such as a jackal, lion, wild dog, baboon, or a leopard, the mountain reedbuck flips up its tail, showing the fluffy white underside. Though a jackal or leopard might catch them, they are fairly safe from hunters. The mountain reedbucks are so tame and easy to approach that hunters find them boring and too easy a catch.
There is no specific breeding time for the mountain reedbuck, but breeding tends to take place in late summer and autumn. Births are most frequent when there is a lot of plant matter available. The time this would occur varies throughout Africa. Males and females put on a grand performance of ground scraping and leaping into the air as part of their mating rituals. After mating, the gestation period (duration of pregnancy) is eight months. After that time the female gives birth to one calf. Mountain reedbucks can reproduce when they are one year old.
The life span of the mountain reedbuck is around 12 years. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Mountain Reedbuck - Facts, Diet, Habitat, & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/mountain-reedbuck. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Steinke, Ashly. “ADW: Redunca Fulvorufula: Information.” Animal Diversity Web, 2004, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Redunca‗fulvorufula. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.