The Bohor reedbuck (Redunca redunca) is an antelope native to central Africa in the genus Redunca, that mostly lives in grasslands near water.

Description

The yellow to grayish brown coat of Bohor reedbucks feels rough and oily. The undersides are white in color. A few markings—like a dark stripe on the front of each foreleg, a pale ring of hair around the eyes and along the lips, lower jaw, and upper throat—can be found.^[2] Males have thick necks and a pair of horns, that are short and stout, extending backward from the forehead before hooking sharply inwards and forwards at the tips. The horns measure about 25–35 cm. Some Sudanese reedbucks have very long, wide-spreading horns, too. Females lack horns. Males weigh 43–65 kg, while females weigh 35–45 kg. A bohor reddbuck can survive for almost ten years.^[2]

Taxonomy

It was first described by Peter Simon Pallas, a German zoologist and botanist who worked in Russia, in 1767. As many as seven subspecies have been recognized, which Kingdon and Hoffmann had reduced to five.^[1]

Ecology

Bohor reedbucks are active almost all the time, but often rest in grasslands during midday. Many predators, including lion, leopard, spotted hyena, African wild dog and Nile crocodile feed on these reedbucks. Bohor reedbucks can easily hide in grasses and reeds as the colors of their coats match with that of the ground.^[3] When threatened, they usually remain motionless or retreat slowly into cover for defense, but if the threat is close they flee, whistling shrilly to alert the others. It hides from predators rather than forming herds in defence.^[4] Adult males maintain territories about 0·2–0·3 km² in area, and defend them by patrolling instead of marking them.

Most of these antelopes remain solitary. Two to seven adult females and one mature male occupy a shared home range but can not stay together for too long. In Sudan many large groups have over hundred members in summer. Male calves are driven away from the herd after six months, and form bachelor herds until they become fully mature at the age of four years. These often form their own groups.^[4]

Feeding

Bohor reedbucks typically feed on grass. A specimen from Serengeti, Tanzania.

The bohor reedbuck is a herbivore and prefers grasses tender reed shoots with high protein and low fiber. It generally feeds in night. If the season is wet, food is abundant.^[4] During summer they feed on other types of vegetation, like wheat and other grains, if their normal diet is not available. According to Richard Despard Estes, a biologist specializing in the behaviour of mammals in mainland Africa, they may not need water if they are in green pastures, even though they require it much.^[3][5]

Reproduction

A male reaches sexual maturity at the age of three to four years, while females start their reproductive cycle at just one year of age. Courtship begins with the male circling the female, making a peculiar bleating noise. Like many other animals, bohor reedbucks also fight over dominance. The gestation period lasts for 7–8 months. A female can reproduce one offspring per birth, which remains well hidden for the first two months of life. Fewer births occur during the dry season,^[4][2] but breeding is peak during rainy season. The estrus cycle repeats every 9–14 months.^[5]

Habitat and distribution

Bohor reedbuck occurs from Senegal, east to Ethiopia and south to Tanzania. The bohor reedbuck inhabits moist and unstable grasslands and swamplands. It often can adapt well to flooding, drought and fires.^[4] Typically found in floodplain and woodland habitats, it has a preference for coastal areas with a lot of tall grass.^[2] According to the IUCN, it is mostly found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, and Togo (and perhaps in Eritrea).^[1]

Conservation and threats

Though Bohor reedbuck is a common and widely distributed species and has least concern, it still faces the threat of habitat loss and degradation due to too many human settlements into its habitat (particularly in west Africa where reedbuck is scarce) and poaching. It is possibly extinct in Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda by now.^[1] Bohor reedbucks have been a game animal in Africa in the past. During the dry season, bohors are hunted with dogs and nets in Uganda. Bohors with the largest horns are prized by hunters. This also decreased the population.^[5] Accrding to the IUCN, major threats for the extinction of Bohor reedbuck include droughts, floodplain degradation, overhunting, and loss of habitat.^[1]

References