Kobus ellipsiprymnus — Details

Waterbuck learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Brief Summary

Biology

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Adult male waterbuck establish territories (3), which they guard from other males through displays and combat (4), using their prominent horns. Female and young waterbuck form herds of up to 30 individuals, which move freely through a number of male territories (3). Young males may form bachelor herds, until the opportunity arises to usurp an adult male from his territory (3). The strong, musky scent of waterbucks (3), caused by the oily secretion that coats the fur, is particularly pungent in males (5), and enables them to find other waterbuck. Unfortunately, this useful means of detection also makes them more vulnerable to being found by predators such as lions and hyenas (2). As waterbucks roam around their range, they graze on a variety of grasses, which is unusually high in protein. This diet is supplemented with reeds, rushes (5), and even sometimes fruits, particularly when green grass is scarce (2). Waterbucks drink an unusually large amount of water for an antelope, hence the reason why they are never found too far from a water source (5). During the mating season, adult males attempt to hold females as they wander through their territory, for mating (3). The gestation period lasts for over eight months, and the female gives birth to a single young, which remains hidden in vegetation for at least the first two weeks of life (2). After this period, the calf begins to join its mother and the herd (3), the mother's raised tail serving as a signal to follow (2). At the age of six months the young is weaned. Female waterbuck reach maturity at about three years of age (3), while males leave their mother's herd at about eight or nine months to join a bachelor herd (4), but are unable to compete for their own territory until five or six years old (2) (3). Waterbuck are known to live for up to 18 years (2).
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Comprehensive Description

Description

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This rather shaggy-haired antelope is noted for its association with water and its strong musky scent (3). Its coat of coarse hair ranges in colour from grey-brown to reddish (3), with darker legs (2). The face is marked with white around the nose, mouth, above the eyes and on the throat (3). The short, rounded ears are white on the inside and black on the edges and tips (2) (3). The males bear long, heavily-ridged horns, extending back from the head and then sweeping forward (3), reaching up to 99 centimetres in length (2). Two subspecies of the waterbuck are recognised, which can be easily distinguished by the obvious pattern on their rear; a broad, white ring encircles the rump of the ellipsen waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus), while the Defassa waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa) has a solid white patch on its rump (2) (3).
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Distribution

Range Description

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The Waterbuck formerly occurred throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. It has been eliminated widely within its former range, but survives in many protected areas and in some other areas which are sparsely populated by humans.

The Defassa Waterbuck is found west of the western Rift Valley and south of the Sahel from Eritrea in the east to Guinea Bissau in the west; its most northerly point of distribution is in southern Mali. A population still exists in Niokola-Koba in Senegal. Defassa also range east of the Congo Basin forest, spreading west below the basin’s southern limit through Zambia into Angola. Another arm extends north, west of the Congo Basin to the Zaïre R. in Congo Republic. Defassa are extinct in Gambia (though vagrants may enter from Senegal) (Spinage in press).

East of the eastern Rift Valley, the Defassa is replaced by the Common Waterbuck, which extends southwards to about the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi N.P. in KwaZulu-Natal, and to central Namibia. Common Waterbuck are extinct in Ethiopia (though Defassa remain) (Spinage in press).
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Geographic Range

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There are two main groups of waterbuck. The ellipsiprymnus group is found throughout southeast Africa. The defassa group is found in northeastern, central, and western Africa (Kingdon, 1982).

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

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Range

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The ellipsen waterbuck occurs in south-east Africa, east of the Great Rift Valley, while the Defassa waterbuck is found west of the Great Rift Valley, ranging from Ethiopia west to Senegal (2) (3).
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Physical Description

Morphology

Physical Description

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Waterbuck have long bodies and necks and short legs. The hair is coarse, and they have a mane on their necks (Estes, 1991). Their head and body length ranges from 177 - 235 cm and shoulder height from 120 - 136 cm. Only male waterbuck have horns, which are curved forward and vary in length from 55 - 99 cm. The length of the horns is determined by the age of the waterbuck (Kingdon, 1982). Body color ranges from gray to red-brown and darkens with age. The lower part of the legs is black with white rings above the hooves (Estes, 1991).

Range mass: 160 to 300 kg.

Average basal metabolic rate: 148.949 W.

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
Inhabits savanna woodlands and forest-savanna moasics near permanent water (East 1999). Defassa generally are limited to areas receiving at least 750 mm annual rainfall, whereas Common persist in drier regimes (Spinage in press). They have been recorded to at least 2,100 m in Ethiopia (Yalden et al. 1996). Waterbuck are able to exploit a range of habitats to which its congeners are specifically adapted, albeit only to a varying degree, being not as aquatic as the Lechwe, nor as independent of water as the Kob (Spinage in press). Waterbuck are classified as grazers, but also browse.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
  • Freshwater
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Habitat

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Waterbuck prefer grassland habitat that is close to water. The best habitats are by draining lines and in valleys. While they prefer dry ground, they remain close to water for food and as an escape from predators (Estes, 1991).

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland

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Habitat

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The waterbuck inhabits savannas and woodland where, as its name suggests, it is always within reach of permanent water (2). It favours areas where cover, in the form of woods or thickets, lies adjacent to open grassland suitable for grazing (3).
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Trophic Strategy

Food Habits

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Waterbuck are very water dependent. They eat a variety of grasses, both medium and short in length. Their diet is very rich in protein. When the amount of available grass is low, waterbuck eat other herbs to satisfy their needs (Estes, 1991).

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Life History and Behavior

Life Expectancy

Lifespan/Longevity

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Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 18.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 18.7 years.

Average lifespan

Sex: female

Status: wild: 18.5 years.

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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 30 years (captivity) Observations: One wild born specimen was about 30 years old when it died in captivity (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Reproduction

Reproduction

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Male waterbuck mature at six years of age, and females reach maturity in three years. Breeding near the equator is perennial. The generations in these populations are spaced about ten months apart. In northern Africa, the waterbuck calve annually. The gestation period is about eight to eight and a half months. A few days before calving, mothers isolate themselves in thickets. After birth, it takes newborns about half an hour to gain their feet. The young calves remain hidden for two to four weeks (Estes, 1991).

Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Range gestation period: 9.07 to 9.57 months.

Range weaning age: 6 to 7 months.

Average birth mass: 9000 g.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 771 days.

Parental Investment: altricial

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2008

Assessor/s
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group

Reviewer/s
Mallon, D.P. (Antelope Red List Authority) & Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment)

Justification
Remains widespread across western, central, eastern and southern Africa, with an estimated total population of about 200,000 over half of which occurred in protected areas. The species is susceptible to poaching and a number of populations have declined. There is no evidence so far that the scale of this decline has reached a level that would qualify the species for Near Threatened or Vulnerable status. However, if declining trends continue then the species may warrant uplisting to Near Threatenedin the near or medium-term future.

History
  • 1996
    Lower Risk/conservation dependent
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Conservation Status

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---

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Status

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Classified as Lower Risk / Conservation Dependent (LR/cd) on the IUCN Red List 2007. Subspecies: Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus (ellipsen or common waterbuck) and Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa (Defassa waterbuck) are both classified as Lower Risk / Conservation Dependent (LR/cd) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
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Population

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Population
Citing various authors East (1999) indicates that population densities can reach high levels within localized areas of favourable habitat, e.g., >10.0/km² in Lake Nakuru National Park. More typical density estimates obtained by aerial surveys of areas where the species is reasonably common are of the order 0.05-0.15/km². Higher densities of 0.2-0.9/km² have been recorded in aerial surveys of a few areas. Ground sun/eys have provided density estimates of the order 0.4-1.5/km² in areas where the species is common.

East (1999) produced a total population estimate of about 200,000. This includes approximately 95,000 Defassa Waterbuck and 105,000 Common. Overall population trend is decreasing for both subspecies.

Population Trend
Decreasing
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
Waterbuck have been eliminated widely within their former range mainly due to hunting, due to their sedentary nature and fondness for cultivation (Spinage in press). Even though they remain well represented in protected areas, several populations have undergone steep declines (especially those of the Defassa Waterbuck), including those in Queen Elizabeth N. P., Murschison Falls N.P., Akagera N.P., Lake Nakuru N.P., and Comoe N.P. (Spinage in press; and references therein).
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Threats

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The waterbuck has been eliminated from many areas within its large range (2), and is threatened in many other regions by hunting for food, competition with cattle for grazing, and the loss of suitable habitat to human settlements (1) (6).
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
More than half the population survives in protected areas, with about 60% of Defassa in protected areas, and more than half of Common in protected areas (plus 13% on private land) (East 1999).

Important populations of the Defassa Waterbuck persist in areas such as Niokolo-Koba (Senegal), Comoe (Côte d'Ivoire), Arly-Singou and Nazinga (Burkina Faso), Mole and Bui (Ghana), Pendjari (Benin), the national parks and hunting zones of North Province (Cameroon), Manovo-Gounda-St. Floris (Central African Republic), Moukalaba (Gabon), Garamba and Virunga (Congo-Kinshasa), the Awash Valley and Omo-Mago-Murule (Ethiopia), Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks (Uganda), Serengeti, Moyowosi-Kigosi, Ugalla River and Katavi-Rukwa (Tanzania) and Kafue (Zambia), but about half of these populations are in decline because of poaching (East 1999).

Important populations of the Common Waterbuck occur in areas such as Tsavo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Lake Nakuru and the coastal rangelands (Kenya), Tarangire and Selous-Mikumi (Tanzania), the Luangwa Valley (Zambia), and Kruger, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi and private land (South Africa) (East 1999).
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Conservation

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This shaggy-haired antelope thankfully remains widespread in numerous protected areas throughout its range (2) (6), such as Moukalaba Reserve in Gabon and 'W' National Park in Niger (6). However, even within these areas, illegal hunting and habitat degradation can remain a problem, and thus in many countries, the survival of the waterbuck relies on the continuation and improvement of effective protection of these parks and reserves (6).
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

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Waterbuck are hunted for sport in Africa and are found in zoos throughout the world (Kingdon, 1982).

Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material

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Wikipedia

Waterbuck

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The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Waterbuck stand 120 to 136 centimetres (47 to 54 in) at the shoulder.[2] Males weigh 200–300 kilograms (440–660 lb) and females 160–200 kilograms (350–440 lb).[2] Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps. The waterproofing secretions of the waterbuck's sweat glands produces an unpleasant odor in its meat, unless the animal is skinned carefully. According to African myth the meat of the waterbuck is not edible, but this is untrue—whilst not especially tasty, waterbuck venison is safe to eat. The long spiral structured horns, found only in males, sweep back and up.

Waterbuck are found in scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass. Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators. Waterbuck are diurnal. Females gather in herds of between two and six hundred individuals. Males keep territories of around three hundred acres (1.2 km²) during their prime. They usually lose their territories before the age of ten.

Subspecies

Male defassa waterbuck in Tanzania

The Waterbuck occurs in two main groups, which formerly have been treated as separate species, but they interbreed where their ranges come into contact.[3] The first group is the defassa waterbuck with a white rump patch. It is found west of the Gregory Rift, ranging from Ethiopia west to Senegal and south to Zambia. The second is the ellipsen waterbuck, which has a white ellipse-shaped ring on the rump that extends above the tail. It is found in south-east Africa, ranging from southern Somalia to KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) and inland to the Gregory Rift and Botswana. Some authorities accept only these two as valid subspecies, with the trinomial K. e. defassa for the defassa waterbuck and K. e. ellipsiprymnus for the ellipsen waterbuck.[1][2] Others treat the defassa and ellipsen Waterbucks as subspecies groups, with as many as 13 separate subspecies in total,[3] among others based on differences in overall colour.[4] In that case, the ellipsen waterbuck includes the first four subspecies in the following list (ellipsiprymnus to thikae), while the defassa waterbuck includes the remaining:[3]

  • K. e. ellipsiprymnus (Ellipsen Waterbuck) group:
    • K. e. ellipsiprymnus Ogilby, 1833
    • K. e. kondensis Matschie, 1911
    • K. e. pallidus Matschie, 1911
    • K. e. thikae Matschie, 1910
  • K. e. defassa (Defassa Waterbuck) group:
    • K. e. adolfifriderici Matschie, 1910.
    • K. e. annectens Schwarz, 1913
    • K. e. crawshayi P. L. Sclater, 1894
    • K. e. defassa Rüppell, 1835
    • K. e. harnieri Murie, 1867.
    • K. e. penricei W. Rothschild, 1895
    • K. e. tjaederi Lönnberg, 1907
    • K. e. tschadensis Schwarz, 1913
    • K. e. unctuosus Laurillard, 1842

Etymology

Kobus (New Latin) from koba, an African name. ellipsiprymnus refers to the white ring on the rump. Ellipes (Greek) wanting, defective: an ellipse is a shape deviating from a circle; prumnos (Greek) the hind part.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Waterbuck
Wikispecies has information related to: Kobus ellipsiprymnus
  1. ^ a b IUCN redlist.
  2. ^ a b c Kingdon 1997, pp. 407–409.
  3. ^ a b c Wilson & Reeder 2005.
  4. ^ Haltenorth & Diller 1980, p. 72.
  5. ^ http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Kobus_ellipsiprymnus.html.
Cited works
Further reading
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