Mountain Reedbuck

Redunca fulvorufula

  Ram Ewe
Mass (adult) 24 to 36 kg 15 to 34 kg
Shoulder height ± 75 cm ± 73 cm
Life expectancy ± 11 years ± 11 years

Trophy Records


  Minimum Record
Rowland Ward 6 -7/8 " 10" shot in 1972
SCI 11" 18 -1/8" shot in 1995
SCI Bowhunting 9" 17 -5/8" shot in 1976


Identification

The Mountain Reedbuck is a small antelope with grey-fawn upperparts and white underparts. The hair on the head and neck usually has a yellowish tinge and it has black spots below the ears. The point of the ears are rounded. The tail is bushy and is held vertically when the animal is alarmed, prominently displaying the white under-surface. Only the male carries the short ridged and forward-curved horns.

Habitat

As the common name suggests, these antelope are restricted to mountainous and hill country, with scattered bush and grassy slopes but water is essential.

Habits

Nursery herds comprising between 2 and 6 ewes and their lambs move over areas held throughout the year by territorial rams. Rams without territories may remain solitary or join up to form small bachelor groups. Activity is both nocturnal and diurnal but animals lie up during the heat of the day. When alarmed it flees downhill.

Food

The Mountain Reedbuck is a grazer.

Vocalisation

A shrill whistle similar to that of the Reedbuck.

Breeding

A single young is born any time during the year (peaks in December to January) after a gestation period of ± 8 months. The young remains hidden for two to three months before joining the group. Ewes have 2 pairs of groin mammae.