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 Female, Namibia
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| Raphicerus campestris Thunberg, 1811 |
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 Steenbok distribution based on 1970s data. Early life Thunberg was born at Jönköping, and became a pupil of Carolus Linnaeus at Uppsala University.
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The Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. Antelope are Ruminant hoofed Mammals of the family Bovidae in the order of Even-toed ungulates. It is also known as the "Steinbuck" or "Steinbok"; not to be confused with the Dutch-language "steenbok" which is an ibex. Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname An ibex, commonly called by its French name bouquetin also called Steinbock in German an individual of any of several species of wild mountain goats (genus
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Description
Steenbok resemble small Oribi, standing 45–60 cm at the shoulder. Description Oribi are graceful slender-legged long-necked small Antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa Their pelage (coat) is any shade from fawn to rufous, typically rather orange. In Mammals pelage is the Hair, Fur, or Wool that covers the Animal. The underside, including chin and throat, is white, as is the ring around the eye. Ears are large with "finger-marks" on the inside. Males carry straight, smooth, parallel horns 7–19 cm long (see image left). A horn is a pointed projection of the Skin on the head of various Mammals consisting of a covering of horn ( Keratin and other Proteins There is a black crescent-shape between the ears, a long black bridge to the glossy black nose, and a black circular scent-gland in front of the eye. The tail is not usually visible, being only 4–6 cm long.
Distribution and Habitat
There are two distinct clusters in Steenbok distribution. In East Africa, it occurs in southern Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south The Republic of Uganda is a Landlocked country in East Africa. Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya It was formerly widespread in Uganda,[1] but is now possibly extinct there. In southern Africa, it occurs in Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and probably Lesotho. Southern Africa is the Southernmost Region of the African Continent, variably defined by Geography or Geopolitics. Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Kingdom of Swaziland is a country located in Southern Africa centred at approximately 26o49'S 31o38'E The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Lesotho (lɪˈsuːtuː) officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a Landlocked country and Enclave — entirely surrounded by the Republic of South
Steenbok can use a variety of habitats from semi-desert, such as the edge of the Kalahari Desert and Etosha National Park, to open woodland and thickets, including open plains, stony savannah, and Acacia–grassland mosaics. A habitat (which is Latin for "it inhabits" is an Ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular Species. A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climatic regions that receive low annual Rainfall (250-500 mm or 10-20 in Etosha National Park is a national park in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia. A savanna or savannah is a Tropical or Subtropical Grassland or Woodland Ecosystem. Acacia is a Genus of Shrubs and Trees belonging to the Subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the Vegetation is dominated by Grasses ( Poaceae) and other Herbaceous (non-woody Art History Mosaics of the 4th century BC are found in the Macedonian palace-city of Aegae, and they enriched the floors of Hellenistic They are said to favour unstable or transitional habitats. [2]
Diet
Steenbok typically browse on low-level vegetation, but are also adept at scraping up roots and tubers. Herbivory is a form of Predation in which an Organism, known as a herbivore, consumes principally Autotrophs ref name=Campbell>Campbell They will also take fruits and seasonally graze on grass. Grazing generally describes a type of Predation in which an Herbivore feeds on Plants (such as Grasses, or more broadly on a multicellular Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include They are almost entirely independent of drinking water, gaining the moisture they need from their food.
Behaviour
During cool periods, Steenbok are active throughout the day; however, during hotter periods, they rest under shade during the heat of the day. While resting, they may be busy grooming, ruminating or taking brief spells of sleep. Physiologically a ruminant is a Mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal's first stomach known [3]
Anti-predator
At the first sign of trouble, Steenbok typically lie low in the vegetation. If a predator or perceived threat comes closer, a Steenbok will leap away and follow a zigzag route to try to shake off the pursuer. Escaping Steenbok frequently stop to look back, and flight is alternated with prostration during extended pursuit. They are known to take refuge in the burrows of Aardvarks. The Aardvark ( Orycteropus afer) ("Digging foot" is a medium-sized burrowing nocturnal Mammal native to Africa. Known predators include African Wild Cat, Caracal, Jackals, Leopard, Martial Eagle and Pythons. The African Wildcat ( Felis silvestris lybica) also known as the Desert Cat, is a subspecies of the Wildcat ( F The Caracal ( Caracal caracal) also called Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat. A jackal (from Turkish çakal, via Persian shaghal ultimately from Sanskrit sṛgālaḥ) is a member of any of three The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring The Martial Eagle ( Polemaetus bellicosus) is Africa 's largest Eagle and is the only member of the Genus Polemaetus Common names pythons The Pythonidae are a family of non- Venomous Snakes found in Africa, Asia
Breeding
Steenbok are typically solitary, except for when a pair come together to mate. However, it has been suggested[2] that pairs occupy consistent territories while living independently, staying in contact through scent markings, so that they know where their mate is most of the time. In Ethology, Sociobiology and Behavioral ecology, the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an Animal of a particular Species Territorial marking is Behavior used by Animals to identify their territory. Scent marking is primarily through dung middens. Dung middens, also known as dung hills, are piles of dung that Mammals periodically return to and build up Territories range from 4 hectares to one square kilometre. The male is aggressive during the female's oestrus, engaging in "bluff-and-bluster" type displays with rival males—prolonged contests invariably involve well-matched individuals, usually in their prime. Oestrus is also the biological genus name of the gadfly. The estrous cycle (also oestrous cycle; derived from Latin [3]
Breeding occurs throughout the year, although more fawns are born November to December in the southern spring–summer; some females may breed twice a year. Gestation period is about 170 days, and almost always there is a single precocious fawn. The gestation period in a Viviparous Animal is the length of its Gestation. Precocious puberty (La pubertas praecox) is an unusually early onset of Puberty, the process of sexual maturation triggered by the brain or exogenous chemicals which The fawn is kept hidden in vegetation for 2 weeks, but they suckle for 3 months. Females become sexually mature at 6–8 months and males at 9 months.
Steenbok are known to live for 7 years or more.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized: R. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. c. campestris in Southern Africa and R. c. naumanni of East Africa. Up to 24 subspecies have been described from Southern Africa, distinguished on such features as coat colour.
References
- ^ Williams, John G. 1967. A Field Guide to the National Parks of East Africa. Collins, London. (ISBN 0-00-219294-2)
- ^ a b Kingdon, Jonathan. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego & London. Pp. 387–388. (ISBN 0-12-408355-2)
- ^ a b Cohen, Michael. 1976. The Steenbok: A neglected species. Custos (April 1976): 23–26.
- ^ Matthee, Conrad A. ; Scott K. Davis (2001). "Molecular Insights into the Evolution of the Family Bovidae: A Nuclear DNA Perspective". Molecular Biology and Evolution 11: 1220–1230. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
External links
Gallery
 Male, Etosha National Park |
 Male, Namibia (full version of head-and-shoulders image shown under "Description") |
 Female, Namibia |
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