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Waterbuck
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Waterbuck
(Kobus ellipsiprymnus)
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Scientific
classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Kobus
Species: K. ellipsiprymnus
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Conservation
Status:
Lower risk
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A big, diurnal
antelope found in a large portion of sub-Saharan Africa
(Western, Central, East, and Southern), the Waterbuck is named
after the sweat glands that produce a waterproofing fluid
which coats the whole body.
The two types of waterbuck
found in Kenya are the Northern or DeFassa Waterbuck, characterized
by a whitish rump, and the Southern Common Waterbuck. Waterbuck
stand 190 to 210 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from
160 to 240 kilograms.
Their coats are reddish
brown in colour and become progressively darker with age;
they also have a white 'bib' under their throats and a white
ring on their rumps surrounding their tails. The long spiral
structured horns sweep back and up, they are found only in
males.
A strongly-built animal
with a rough coat, waterbuck are found in scrub and savannah
areas near water where they eat grass. Despite their name
it seems that Waterbuck do not like to enter the water.
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.
Source: Wikipedia's
Waterbuck page. Photo displayed under a GNU
Free Documentation License.
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Animals
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