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Defassa waterbuck - KOBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Buck": "Buck" derives from the Old English word "buc," for the animal.
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Scrub and savanna; never far from water.
Description: This species includes two races that once were considered separate species: the form west of the Rift Valley to Senegal has a completely white rump patch; the form east of the Rift Valley and south has a rump patch that is a white semicircle on a gray background. In both forms the coat is otherwise gray to grayish brown, with darker legs. The outward and upward-curving horns are present in the male only, and are about 30 inches long. Length of head and body is over 7 feet, shoulder height is four and a half feet, and it weighs up to 600 pounds.
Behavior: Both nocturnal and diurnal, this gregarious creature lives in herds of up to 30 individuals. Each herd is led by an elderly bull. Often young adult males form separate, independent groups of about the same size. The waterbuck is usually found near water, but it is not so closely associated with water as would be expected from its name. It feeds on grass and other fresh vegetation, and drinks large amounts of water. It is territorial, but often changes its territory. The coat is impregnated with strong-smelling oily secretions from skin glands. The main predator is the lion.
Reproduction: After a 7 to 8-month gestation, one young is born.
Go to the Artiodactyla Page to learn more about all the even-toed hoofed animals.
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