Name: Steenbuck
Scientific Name: Raphicerus Campestris

Description

Steenbuck resemble small Oribi, standing 45-60 cm at the shoulder. Their pelage (coat) is any shade from fawn to rufous, typically rather orange. The underside, including chin and throat, is white, as is the ring around the eye. Ears are large with “finger-marks” on the inside. Males carry straight, smooth, parallel horns 7-19 cm long (see image left). There is a black crescent-shape between the ears, a long black bridge to the glossy black nose, and a black circular scent-gland in front of the eye.

Habitat

Steenbucks prefer open areas, but they require cover nearby (Stuart and Stuart, 1995). Steenbucks are never found in wooded or broken areas. They are beginning to be found in slightly wooded areas and areas where the environment is more open due to cultivation and road building. Steenbuck can use a variety of habitats from semi-desert, such as the edge of the Kalahari Desert and Etosha National Park, to open woodland and thickets, including open plains, stony savannah, and Acacia-grassland mosaics. They are said to favour unstable or transitional habitats.

Distribution

The steenbuck is found in the southern and eastern savanna of Africa. There are two main populations of steenbuck, separated from one another by the miombo woodlands.

Size

The length of its head and body ranges from 70 – 95 cm. The shoulder height varies from 45 – 60 cm. The tail is very short, with total length ranging from 4 – 6 cm.

Weight

7 to 16 kg; avg. 11.50 kg.

Lifespan

Up to 10 years.