The Antelope of africa

Steenbok

Raphicerus campestris

A small rufous coloured antelope with white underparts charachterised by large rounded ears and the male having short, sharp horns.

Distribution Southern Africa and East Africa. The two distribution areas are separated by northern Zambia, Lake Malawi and northern Mozambique.

Social structure Usually single but pairing off in the mating season. Both males and females have strongly defended territories.

Range differentiation Limited differences in plant species they feed on across the two distribution areas.

Habitat Found in arid areas as it is not reliant on drinking water

Feeding Feed on a range of grasses, seeds, leaves and roots.

Breeding Young are born throughout the year with a peak in the rainy season after a gestation period of almost six months. Young are hidden when they are young.

The short and sharp horns of the male Steenbok

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The male has a pair of short but sharp horns.

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Standing very still with only its ears cocking a steenbok blends into the scene.

It was once thought that steenbok pair for life but this is under scrutiny now as it is known that both sexes spend a great deal of their time alone.

Steenbok are not reliant on drinking water and they get a lot of their moisture needs from roots and bulbs which they dig up with their front hoofs.

Unlike other antelope steenbok will scrape a hole in the earth to urinate and defecate in, after which they scrape earth over the hole to cover it up. It is believed that this is done to cover their presence from predators as they have small territories.