Hoofed Mammals: Antelopes And Other Ruminants Flashcards
In blue duiker, which sex or sexes have horns?
Both, but horns are sometimes absent in females.
What habitats will you find Blue Duiker in?
(5)
The most widespread of the forest duikers.
Lowland rainforest
Montane forests up to 9,000 feet
Gallery Forest
Forest-Savanna Mosaic
Dense Thickets throughout the Southern Savanna.
What do Blue Duiker eat?
5 main categories
Forest Frugivore
small fruits (under an inch in diameter)
Foliage (leaves, shoots, herbs)
Flowers
Animal Matter (ants and other insects)
Fungi (occasionally)
When are blue duiker most active?
Diurnal
Are blue duikers water dependent?
Water Independent
but they are still occasionally seen licking rainwater off of foliage
How many blue duiker live together?
Live in mated pairs with 2 offspring of different ages in fixed territories
What specific feeding or active peaks do blue duiker have?
6-8 am
4-6pm
What specific time do blue duiker often rest?
9 am - 2 pm
What 3 places do blue duiker often rest?
about 40% of the time they rest in the open
about 44% of the time they rest under a tree
about 16% of the time they rest in converts, which are mainly used as refuges from danger.
What animal is most likely to prey on blue duikers?
Crowned hawk eagles
What are 3 Antipredator behaviors in blue duiker?
Snorting (short range)
Whistling
Stamping with hind feet
Whistling and Stamping feet are high-intensity alarms. They increase with strength and rate with the higher degree of danger.
How do blue duikers respond to high intensity alarms?
They run into cover and hide.
Which sex or sexes of Gray Duiker have horns?
males only
What habitats can you find gray duiker in?
(2)
They are almost everywhere below the Sahara except the rain forest, as long as there is cover.
It can survive anywhere there is food and sufficient cover, but they are best suited for
Savanna
Woodland
What 3 habitats will you not find Gray Duiker?
rain forest
open plains
desert
Are gray duikers water dependent?
No. they are water independent.
penned animals have been seen to go 3 months without drinking water.
What do gray duikers eat?
3 main
2 extra
Leaves (45 + species)
Fruits and Seeds
Flowers
Can eat
Herbs
Grass
What 2 animals are gray duikers known to eat alongside?
Baboons and Monkeys on fallen fruit.
What 5 types of animal matter have gray duikers been known to eat?
ants
caterpillars
small lizards
rodents
birds
Which 2 animals have gray duikers been known to stalk and catch?
birds and mice
Where do female gray duikers prefer to rest / ruminate?
Females prefer lower, more closed hiding places, often beside a log or tree trunk
Where do male gray duiker prefer to rest / ruminate?
Males prefer more open, elevated vantage points such as mounds and slopes.
When are gray duiker most active?
Active night and day
active almost exclusively at night in areas where they are heavily hunted.
What specific times are some gray duikers known to be most active?
8 pm
4 am
What 7 Antipredator behaviors are seen in gray duiker?
alarm snorts
stamping
skulking
lying out
running
distress bleats
attack
Name 4 known predators of gray duikers
Baboons
Hyena
Leopards
Pythons
What habitats can you find steenbok in?
Miombo Woodland Zone
In South Africa, its suited almost everywhere.
Grassland dotted with bush
Light woodland
Associated with open plains in Southern Savanna.
Steenbok benefits from destruction of woodland, wether by man or animal. They are associated with transitional and unstable conditions.
What is the Steenboks diet?
5 examples
Leaves and Shoots of a variety of plans.
Forbs, seeds, and seed pods
Berries and fruits
Young, tender grasses.
Roots and tubers
Are steenboks water dependent?
Water Independent but has been known to drink when the opportunity arises.
When are steenbok most active?
They are active during the day and night,
They are active almost exclusively at night in settled areas, outside of that they are also known to be day active.
When are steenbok activity peaks during the day?
Morning and late afternoon.
What 3 Antipredator behaviors are seen in Steenbok?
Close Concealment
Dodging run
Alarm snorts
Name 3 predators Steenbok are vulnerable to
Eagles (calves)
Caracals
Jackals
What is the primary Antipredator behavior steenbok rely on?
Concealment
They lie prone in concealment until discovery is imminent and then they dash away at high speeds to disappear into another patch of cover.
When are 4 Klipspringer activity peaks?
Early morning
Mid morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
What are the 6 Antipredator behaviors seen in Klipspringer?
Male sentry duty
Alert stance and fixed stare
Stamping
Alarm whistling
Bounding flights
Jumping in place
Name 3 known predator of Klipspringer?
Jackals
Baboon
Spotted hyena
In Reedbuck, do both sexes have horns?
Only males have horns
Common reedbuck pictured
What habitats can common Reedbuck be found in?
Suitable floodplain
Drainage line grassland
Montane habitat (grassland tall enough to hide them)
What kind of habitat can mountain reedbuck be found in?
Found only in hills and mountains. Rolling grassy hills and steep slopes.
What do common and mountain reedbuck eat?
Primarily grazers.
They also eat some Forbs and woody vegetation during the dry season
Studies show they can eat grasses considered unpalatable or inaccessible to other antelopes
Mountain reedbuck pictured
Are common Reedbuck water dependent?
Yes
They cannot survive more than a few days without drinking late in the dry season
Are mountain reedbuck water dependent?
Are considered comparatively water independent
How many common reedbuck live together?
Typically lives in monogamous pairs
How many mountain reedbuck live together
Usually pins in small herds with 3-6 females and their young.
What time are common reedbuck most active?
Primarily nocturnal, but daytime activity does exist. Active times may extend 1 1/2 hours after dawn and before dark.
What 6 Antipredator behaviors are seen in reedbuck?
Skulking
Lying-out
Alert posture
Whistling
Storting and popping
Snorting
Common reedbuck pictured
What are common reedbuck primary strategy to escape / avoid predators?
Lacking endurance, they seek to disappear into cover as soon as possible.
If already in cover, they will often lie close (concealment) until the predator is within a few meters, then they will flee
What are mountain reedbuck main 2 strategies to escape / avoid predators?
Take advantage of their ability to bound rapidly up steep slopes and over stony ground
Will lie out (Conceal) when there is enough cover
How can you differentiate between common reedbuck and mountain reedbuck?
Common reedbuck are larger
Common reedbuck have curved horns
Mountain reedbuck have hooked horns
Mountain reedbuck have less developed markings.
Mountain reedbok pictured
Are waterbucks water dependent?
yes
They are possibly the most water dependent of all the antelopes
What kind of habitat will you find waterbuck in?
requires cover, open grassland close to water.
most often found along drainage lines and within valleys. spends more time in woodland during the wet season.
what kind of habitat do waterbuck usually avoid?
low-lying bushed areas and bushy slopes.
females like to have some but not too much cover in reach
What do waterbuck eat?
Primarily feed on a wide variety of grasses, preferably medium and short length.
When green grass is unavailable, will eat other herbage and browses such as dicot and acacia.
When are waterbuck most active?
Day and night.
Varies widely according to season and latitude. They have peak feeding sessions at the start of and end of each day.
When is waterbuck calving season?
They calve annually during the rainy season.
What Antipredator behavior is a waterbuck calf most likely to display?
Running
What 7 Antipredator behaviors do waterbuck display?
Alert posture
Snorting
Stotting
Trotting
Running into cover
Lying out
Self defense in males only
In Kruger NP specifically, which 3 predators are most likely to hunt waterbuck?
Lions
Spotted hyena
Crocodiles
Do both sexes of gray Rhebok have horns?
No. only males have horns.
Where in Kruger can you find gray Rhebok?
Southwest mountains region near berg-en-dal
What habitats will you find gray Rhebok?
Grassland habitats over 1,000 meters
Sourveld grassland
Scrub savanna that might occur on plateaus
What is the gray Rhebok diet?
4
Mixed feeder
Grasses when available and browses when it’s not on herbs, leaves, and green shoots
What differentiates the habitat of gray Rhebok and mountain reedbuck?
Gray Rhebok avoid taller grasses that mountain reedbuck prefer
Gray rhebok pictured
How many Rhebok live together?
1-15 females and their young with one male
3-5 average
When are gray Rhebok most active?
Diurnal
Only one clear active period in the late afternoon.
How do gray Rhebok respond to unidentified sounds?
They always react, but they usually wait to see what caused the sound before they flee.
When is mating season for gray Rhebok?
Between January and April
When is calving season for gray Rhebok?
November-January
What are 5 Antipredator behaviors seen in gray Rhebok?
Alert posture
Restless walking
Snorting
Stamping
Stotting
In roans, which sexes have horns?
Males and females have horns, though male horns are bigger.
What habitats would you find the Roan in?
Grassland and tree savanna. They tolerate taller grass and higher elevations including montane grassland.
What is the Roan diet?
Selective grazer on perennial grasses.
Also browse on leaves, Forbs, and pods
Are roan water dependent?
Yes they are water dependent
How many roan live together?
Roan herds are usually 6-20
When are roan most active?
Diurnal
Though they tend to be late risers, especially on cool mornings.
What specific time do roan often wake up / get up?
Often rest until 9 am
What 2 specific times are roans feeding peaks?
10-11 am and the last hour before sunset
What specific time is roans resting peak?
2-3 pm
What specific time did a study on Kruger Roan herds show they usually drink water?
Between 10-11 am
In a study on Kruger Roan, after drinking, how far did they move from their water source before settling to rest during the heat of the day?
1300 feet / .2 miles
To
2,600 feet / .5 miles
How far do roan move in a day?
2-4 km or less / 1.2 -2.5 miles a day
How long do roan usually stay in one area before they move?
Several weeks.
How do male roan mark their territory?
Depositing dung at intervals, especially along roadsides
What 4 Antipredator behaviors are seen in roan?
Alert posture
Alarm snort
Self defense
Flight
In sable, do both sexes have horns?
Yes, but they are longer in males
How do male sable differ in appearance?
Males horns are thicker and longer, they turn from brown to black around year 3
What habitat are sable found in?
A mosaic arrangement of woodland and grassland
Woods must be open enough to support an understory of grasses
Miombo woodland
What is one thing known to support many grasses and browse favored by sable?
Termite mounts
How many sable live together?
15-25 female and young on average
What habitat do sable prefer based on season?
Dry season = large floodplain
Wet season = adjacent wooded plateau
How far do sable herds typically wander day to day?
Less than 1 km / .6 miles
How long do sable usually spend in one place?
A week or more
When are sable most active?
Diurnal
Late risers with morning and afternoon activity peaks
Might not get up until 8 am
Are sable water dependent?
Yes
How often do sable visit watering holes?
Often, if not daily.
What times are sable likely to visit water holes?
Midday and sometimes at night
When is calving season in sable?
Over several months toward the end of the rains. 80 % occur within a 2 month period.
How do mother and baby sable find each other?
With a low bird like call
What 3 Antipredator behaviors are seen in sable?
Alert posture
Snorting
Style trotting
What predator is most likely to prey on sable calves?
Leopards
What habitat will you find hartebeest?
Plains / savanna
Are usually found near the woodland edge than far into the grasses.
Enters woodland and tall bush grassland more readily than wildebeests
Closely associated with drainage-line grassland that dissects miombo woodland.
What do hartebeest eat?
Grazes on leafy perennial grasses—medium length in particular
Are hartebeest water dependent?
No
Will drink regularly where available but can meet needs without drinking
How many hartebeest live together?
6-15 is typical although herds much bigger do exist
When are hartebeest most active?
Diurnal
Main activity peaks are early and late in the day with lesser peaks throughout the day
What 5 Antipredator behaviors are seen in hartebeest
Alert posture
Snorting
Stamping
Style trotting
Stotting
How can you differentiate between a hartebeest and a tsessebe?
Hartebeest pictured below
Tsessebe are smaller, darker, and dont have the elongated forehead of a hartebeest
Tsessebe pictured below
What kind of habitat will you find tsessebe?
Arid and savanna biomes
Grassland habitats ranging from vast treeless plain to lightly wooded bush and tree savanna
Prefers medium grass, generally lowlands under 1,500 meters
What do tsessebe eat?
Virtually nothing but grass
Are tsessebe water dependent?
Do not have to drink when grass is green but they drink every 1-2 days when grass is dry
When are tsessebe most active?
What specific times are their feeding Peeks (2)!
Diurnal
Feeding peaks may occur in the morning until 8-9 am and evenings start at about 4 pm
When is tsessebe calving season?
Habitually calve at the end of the dry season
What 5 Antipredator behaviors are seen in tsessebe?
Alert posture
Snorting
Style trotting
Stotting
Cavorting in flight
Name 2 species known to prey on tsessebe calves
Jackals
Cheetahs
What habitat will you find wildebeest in?
Plains and acacia savanna
Favor plains covered in colonial grasses within 10-15 km of water.
Are wildebeest water dependent?
Yes
They need to drink daily or at the most every other day
What do wildebeest eat?
Bulk grazers on short grasses
When are wildebeest most active?
Active day and night. Will feed on moon lit nights.
Feeeding peaks in the morning and late afternoon
When is wildebeest rutting season?
At the end of the rains when animals are in top condition
When is wildebeest calving season?
At the beginning or just before the time period of most reliable rainfall.
What are 4 signs of rutting behavior in male wildebeest
Calling
Herding
Fighting
Frothing at the mouth
Name 4 significant predators to wildebeest calves
Spotted hyena
Lions
Wild dogs
Cheetahs
What conditions make wildebeest prone to stampede?
When herds are massed at water-holes, river crossings, and other bottlenecks.
What habitat would you find bushbuck?
Forest edge antelope. Rarely leaves cover except for food and other bushbuck.
What do bushbuck eat?
4 examples
Primarily a browser, also tender grass, fruit, and flowers.
How many bushbuck live together?
Usually only a mother and her calf.
However they dont avoid each other either
What time of day are bushbucks most active?
Primarily nocturnal
May graze in their open habitat but return to the thicket by dawn.
What Antipredator behavior is seen in bushbuck?
Concealment / freezing is the primary method.
How does a bushbuck respond if discovered?
Races for the nearest cover with tail up flashing like a white-tailed deer.
What physical traits differentiate between male and female nyala?
Males have twisting white-tipped horns.
Males are larger
Males are gray
Females are chestnut with stripes.
What habitat can you find Nyala in?
Low elf of southern savanna in area of Mozambique coastal plain
Low lying densely wooded habitat near water.
Name 5 animals whose habitats overlap with Nyala?
Greater Kudu
Common duiker
Red duiker
Bushbuck
Bush pig
What do nyala eat?
4 examples
Leaves and pods of acacia and other trees
Various fruits
Herbs
Tender young grass
Are nyala water dependent?
Yes. They drink daily during the dry season
How many nyala live together?
A female and her latest and next to latest offspring
When are nyala most active
During dawn and dusk
where do nyala spend the heat of the day?
Including specific times
In cover, standing motionless beside a tree from 10 am - 2 pm
What times are nyala least active?
From midnight until daylight
How do male nyala advertise their presence?
By posting themselves on the edge of clearings
How do nyala respond to an alarm call if they’re in the open?
Instant flight
When is nyala breeding season?
Year-round conception with peaks in spring and fall
What habitat can you find greater kudu?
Deciduous woodlands
Riverine hillside base
Can be found in many biomes that afford bush and thicket habitat
One of very few large mammals that are capable of surviving in settled country so long as adequate cover remains
What do greater kudu eat?
9 examples
Nearly a pure browser
Leaves, herbs, fallen fruits, succulents, vines, tubers, flowers, and some grass.
Are greater kudu water dependent?
No.
They can subsist in waterless regions but they will drink in the dry season
How many greater kudu live together?
1-3 females and their offspring
In Kruger specifically, 5-6 might be the average
When are greater kudu most active?
Varies
They seem to be active during the day and at night
When is mating season in greater kudu?
Near or after the rainy season
When is the calving season for greater kudu?
During the rainy season
What 3 Antipredator behaviors are seen in greater kudu and which do they rely on most?
Crypto’s / concealment
Sneaking away
Flight
Crypto’s / concealment. Kudu in a thicket will let someone come within 12 meters away before fleeing
Which sexes of eland have horns?
Both sexes, but males are usually thicker and shorter
What habitat can you find eland in with 5 examples.
Sun desert
Acacia savanna
Miombo woodland
Floodplain
Mountains
What kind of habitat are eland intolerant of?
3 examples
Human settlement
Desert
Dense forest
Name 7 things eland eat?
Primarily browse
Also eats
Fruits
Pods
Seeds
Herbs
Tubers
Green and tender grasses
Are eland water dependent
No.
They can go indefinitely without water
How many eland live together?
Varies according to habitat and season
They have been seen in herds of over 100 through i think that is unlikely to see in South Africa
where are you most likely to found a nursery herd of eland?
Most open habitat where ambush by predator is least likely
When are eland most active
Extremely varied, active night and day.
Activity is at least partly related to temperature
In South Africa, they seem to always be at least partially active in the day, mornings and afternoons, even in the summer.
What is the main Antipredator behavior seen in eland?
Self-defense, either alone or in concert, particularly a cooperative maternal group defense of calves.
How do eland respond to predators?
They usually ignore them unless their calves are threatened
How do eland respond to being startled? Such as by something suddenly appearing from the undergrowth?
They attack it, including jackals, warthogs, baboons, cattle, and even birds.
What do eland fear enough to run and how far do they run?
Only man
They will run 300-500 meters.
What habitat can you find buffalo in?
Southern savanna, second growth, clearings in lowland rain forest and arid biomes wherever there is water
Good habitat usually affords dense cover like thickets and reeds, though herds may live in very open woodland
How many buffalo live together?
From 50-1,500
What do buffalo eat?
Bulk grazers, less partial to young tender grass, browses some too if grass quality is poor. Prefers tall pastures.
What kind of pastures are you unlikely to find buffalo in?
Trampled or depleted.
When are buffalo most active?
Primarily nocturnal, but, often active during the day when not subjected to human predation
Are buffalo water dependent?
Yes
they go to water at least once a day.
When do buffalo usually drink water?
During the day, usually between 12 noon and dusk
When is buffalo mating and calving season?
Calving season is early in the rains
Mating season is later in the rains
What 6 Antipredator behaviors are seen in buffalo?
Alert posture
Advancing to investigate
Head tossing
Wheeling and flight
Stampeding
Individual and group attack
Who are the only 2 major predators of buffalo?
Lions and people
What habitat can you find klipspringer in?
Closely associated with steep rocky terrain with adequate food supply.
May be an Isleberg in a vast woodland, a kopje in the middle of a plain.
Open scree of loose rock.
Most abundant in mountain ranges with cliffs and gorges.
What do klipspringer eat?
Versatile.
Evergreen shrubs and bushes
Succulents such as aloe, sansevieria, euphoria and forbs.
Leaves and new shoots
Berries abs fruits
Seeds
Flowers
Woody plants.
Are klipspringer water dependent?
No.
They get all the water they need from food but have been seen drinking when water was available.
How many klipspringer live together?
Monogamous pairs.
When are klipspringer most active?
Active day and night
