Reedbuck and rhebuck

R E E D B U C K

a n d

R H E B U C K

b u c k a nd th ese to g e t h e r w i t h five species o f w a t e r b u c k , c o n s t i t u t e a s u b ­ fam ily o f t h e a n te l o p e s , the R E D U N - C IN A E . T h e re is b u t a single species o f r h e b u c k , th e G re y R h e b u c k , a n d this c o n s t it u te s a n o t h e r s u b f a m il y , th e P E L E I N A E . T h e M o u n t a in R e e d b u c k

H ead o f m ale M ountain R ee d b u c k

a n d th e G re y R h e b u c k are o f t e n c o n ­ fused, because b o t h species are c o n f i n e d t o higher a ltitu d e s in the O ra nge Fre e S ta t e , b o t h have th e sam e suffix in A frikaans ( “ R o o i r i b b o k ” a n d “ Vaal- r i b b o k ” respectively ), an d th e females o f th e t w o species are difficult to dis tinguish at a dis ta n c e , as th ey d o n o t possess h o rn s . T h e m a in d i f f e r e n ­ ces are as follows:

T h e M o u n t a in R e e d b u c k ( “ R o o i r i b ­ b o k ” , R ed u n ca fu lv o ru fu la j is a soli­

ta r y anim al, b u t can occasionally be f o u n d in pairs o r small he rd s. It

in-ib o v e : A fe m a le M ountain R ee d b u ck “R o o ir ib b o k ”), R e d u n c a fulvorufula.

B elow : A fe m a le Grey R h e b u c k

( " V aalribbok”), Pelea capreolus. (Photo b y N. Ferreira). N ote: No person, n o t even th e landowner, m ay h u n t grey rhebuck during the p eriod 1 January 19 7 8 to 31 D ecem ber 1978 inclusive.

ha b it s ro c k y hills o r b r o k e n c o u n t r y w h e r e th e r e are so m e sca tte r e d bush es o r trees and grass. T h e male h a s curv ed h o r n s a nd in b o t h sexes the belly is w h ite a nd sharply d e m a r c a t e d fro m the re st o f th e b o d y . It is w o r th w h il e re ­ m e m b e r i n g t h a t t h e ear tips are ro u n d e d in this species. T h e M o u n t a in R e e d b u c k is f o u n d in S o u t h Africa, T a n z a n ia , K e n y a , U g an d a, S u d a n a n d Eth io p ia. T h e G rey R h e b u c k ( “ V a a l r i b b o k ” ,

Pelea capreolus) prefers o p e n grassland

on t h e p la t e a u x and p e d i m e n t s o f m o u n t a i n s . T h e m ale has vertical, p a ra l­ lel h o r n s a n d in b o t h sexes th e belly is h a rd l y pale r t h a n the rest o f t h e b o d y and th ere is n o sh arp line o f d e m a r c a ­ ti on. T he ear tips are p o in t e d . The Grey R h e b u c k is in d ig en o u s t o S o u th Africa.

C.D. L y n c h (M useum M am m alogist)

G e d r u k e n u i t g e g e e d e u r die N a s i o n a l e M u s e u m , B l o e m f o n t e i n ₁₂