The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)
The common Water back Classification
Kingdom~ Animalia
Phylum ~Chordata
Class~Mammalia
Order~ Artiodactayla
Family~Bovidae
Genus~Kobus
Waterbucks are large antelopes. They are found in two groups occurring as two different species. According to the African myth the meat of the Waterbuck is not edible because of the unpleasant odor produced by their sweat glands.
~Discription of waterbuck
Waterbuck can be divided into two separate groups who often interbreed when they come in the range of contact and they have their own characteristic identification sign. The first group is Defassa waterbuck who carry a white rump patch. The second is the Ellipsen waterbuck who carry a white ellipse shaped ring on the rump which extends above the tail.
The Height; A Waterbuck stands up to a height of 120 to 130 centimeters.
The weight; Female Waterbucks weigh around 160-200 kg. and males weigh about 200-300 kg.
~The Body; Waterbucks are large creatures, having straight backs with shaggy and coarse coats. Males have sharp pointed horns which have ring like features and curved upwards and backwards. Females do not have horns and are therefore easily recognizable.
~The Colour; The hue of their fur ranges from grayish brown to reddish brown which gets darker as they get older. The lower part of the legs has a black tone with white rings above hooves.
~The Behaviour
The Waterbucks have certain special behavioral characteristics.
Waterbucks are generally more active in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Territorial males usually defend large areas near water bodies, or streams throughout the year.
The Waterbucks are gregarious by nature and live in a herd of 5-30 which is usually headed by an old bull.
The young males tend to form independent groups.
Waterbucks, if threatened, will take shelter in shallow water or hide themselves in reeds up to the nose.
The males may attack humans when injured.
Waterbucks freely associate with impala and other antelopes.
Males of this species maintain their territories that stretch over three hundred acres during their prime years but they often lose them before the age of ten.
During mating season the males try to hold females when they wander through their territories for mating.
~The Diet of Common waterbauck and Deffassa waterbuck
The Waterbuck graze on a wide variety of grasses which are high in protein. When green grass is scarce they feed on fruits, reeds and rushes. Also, they drink plenty of water in unusually large amounts.
~Adaptation
The Waterbucks have few adaptive features which help them to survive in their own environment.
Since they spend most of their time in water, they have long stranded hairs which are made waterproof by the skin glands. The hair is covered by a thin tar like grease which carries turpentine like smell.
The flesh of the Waterbucks is tough, stringy, musty-scented and rank. Therefore, predators usually avoid eating them.
The other time the predator may just catch the animal and fail to eat because of that chocking smell that made them to leave.
~Mating Season
Breeding among Waterbucks is carried out throughout the year since food is always available for young ones. However, mating activities reach a peak during winter. Near the equator the breeding is more perennial.
~Reproduction
Female waterbucks reach maturity at the age of three years. Males get matured at the age of six years. Males are highly polygamous and guard the herd of females from other males. The gestation period lasts over eight months. At the end of the gestation period a single offspring is born.
~Life Cycle
The young offspring, after birth, hides in the vegetation for the first two weeks. After this, the young one follows its mother into the herd. At the age of six months, the young one is weaned.
~Life Span
The life span of Waterbucks in wildlife is up to 18 years. If held in captive they live up to 30 years.
~Interesting Facts
Here are a few interesting information about Waterbucks.
*The young waterbucks have a five minutes suckling session during which they are cleaned by their mothers so that no odor is left on their body for predators to attack.
*The Female Waterbucks are more attached to lands, than males. It is in a male’s favor to have a larger territory in order to come in contact with females.
*The Waterbuck, as its name suggests though, is not an aquatic animal at all.
*The Waterbuck, as its name suggests though, is not an aquatic animal at all.
*The Waterbucks are seldom attacked by predators due to their foul smelling flesh. Their sweat glands produce an unpleasant odor which predators do not like.
~Habitat
They mostly stay near water bodies due to the huge demands of water in their body. They can also be found in grasslands as a wide variety of grasses are a part of their diet. Thus, they are mostly found in savanna and woodland habitats.
~Predator
Waterbucks are threatened mainly by carnivores like hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, lions, hunting dogs and crocodiles But all of this are always mainly hunting it but they do not feed accept to a crocodiles
That chocking smell it disturb them from eating them at all.
Street story
There is story that common waterbuck to have that white stripes it happen when common waterbuck and deffasa waterbuck was discussing of where to Looh or in other language to Get into the Toilet and the deffasa told the common waterbuck that it wont go to the toilet until it have get the solution on where to looh but the common waterbuck told the deffasa that ill go into sitting Toilet and save my self since this is the normal habit though no body teaches the idea, the Deffasa told her that ok thats is your own view but ill wait untill the end allelse ill ask the neighbour.
The common waterbuck went it the toilet and meet the sitting toilet and it sat down and save it self after it finish it become with that round stripes in its back
and The Deffasa told her that do you remember what i told you not to go to the toilet see yourself now you have the attachment over your back and that remains till today.
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