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February 15, 2006

African Field Notes: The Waterbuck

It's easy to identify a waterbuck from behind - it's got a big white ring or target, on its backside.

The waterbuck has a long-haired, often shaggy brown-gray coat that emits a smelly, greasy secretion thought to be for waterproofing.The meat of older waterbuck takes on an unpleasant odor from the waterproofing secretions, prompting predators to choose other prey.

A male waterbuck may have a harem of cows. Other males will challenge him for his mating rights. Below we have a challenge to a male with the harem in the picture below.

Latin Name: Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Check out our Safari South Africa podcast - an audio program and a video that features this animal!

Posted by sorsha at February 15, 2006 9:45 PM