Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level II - The Herbivores - Defassa Waterbuck

Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level II - The Herbivores - Defassa Waterbuck - Page 32

Trophic Level II - The Herbivores
Defassa Waterbuck
Page 32

Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa

Length: 177-235 cm (70-93")

Height: 120-136 cm (47-54’)

Tail: 33-40 cm (13-16")

Weight:160-200 kg (352-441 lb.) female, 200-300 kg (441-661 lb.)male

Status: Common. It frequently crossbreeds with the common waterbuck, both of which are found in the Serengeti. The only noticeable difference between the two is the elliptical white circle on the hindquarters of the common waterbuck. Defassa waterbuck lack this marking.

Habitat: Waterbuck are found in savannas, woodlands and areas where forest stands are interrupted by clearings. They are never found far from permanent water; they are usually within 2 or 3 kilometers (1 to 1.5 miles). They prefer wooded areas adjacent to grasslands. Like an impala, they are an edge species.

Food: Waterbuck are primarily grazers feeding on grass, rushes and reeds. They will browse occasionally on leaves and fruits when grass is scarce. They feed during the day and night.

Social System: Waterbuck are territorial but some males will tolerate other juvenile and mature males within the female herds as long as they show no interest in the estrus females. These non-breeding males must display submissive behaviors around the dominant male to appease him. It must be noted that these submissive adult males do breed occasionally when the dominant male is busy elsewhere.

Home ranges or territories vary in size. They are smaller when the habitat is good and larger in poorer areas. Territories average 146 hectares (360 acres). It appears that cow waterbucks come and go as they please. There is little herd loyalty and no obvious rank system. Herds of between 5 and 70 animals are not uncommon but the makeup of these herds can change daily.

There is a rank order among herds of male waterbuck. In bachelor herds, which may number between 5 and 40 males, there is a strict dominance hierarchy. This stays in place despite the frequent coming and going of the bucks. Everyone seems to know their place.

Male calves join the bachelor herds as soon as their horns start to show. This happens between eight and nine months. They remain in these herds until fully mature at six years.

Behavior: Calving takes place year round in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Gestation is approximately 8.5 months. Females may calve every 10 months but rarely have their first calf before they are three years old.

A few days before giving birth, the cow will seek a sheltered place away from the herd. It is often a spot she has used before. The calf will hide-out for the first two or three weeks. During this time, mother will seldom venture more than 500 meters ( 1640 feet) away during the day. At night, she stays very close to her baby. She allows it to nurse three times a day.

When the calf is old enough to join the herd, it will often be left with a crèche of its peers. They are fully weaned after two months.

Waterbuck are not strong runners. They take to the water to escape coursers such as wild dogs and spotted hyenas.

Predators: Predators include lions, spotted hyena, wild dogs, crocodile and leopard.

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