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Waterbuck
The '''Waterbuck''' (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus'') is an antelope found in West Africa|Western, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.
Waterbuck stand 100 to 130 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 160 to 240 kilograms. Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they also have a white 'bib' under their throats and a white ring on their rumps surrounding their tails. The waterproofing secretions of the waterbuck's sweat glands produces an unpleasant odor in its meat, unless the animal is skinned carefully. According to African myth the meat of the waterbuck is not edible, but this is untrue as numerous hunters have demonstrated - whilst not especially tasty, waterbuck venison is perfectly safe to eat. The long spiral structured horns, found only in males, sweep back and up.
Waterbuck are found in scrubland|scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass. Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators. Waterbuck are diurnal animal|diurnal. Females gather in herds of between two and six hundred individuals. Males keep territories (animal)|territories of around three hundred acres (1.2 km²) during their prime. They usually lose their territories before the age of ten.
The '''Defassa Waterbuck''' is a subspecies (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa'') in which the ring on the rump is solid white.
References
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- Animals Online encyclopedia
- African Wildlife Foundation
- Waterbuck at ''Animal Diversity Web''
Images
Image:Defassa waterbuck01.JPG|Female DeFassa Waterbuck, Kafue, Zambia
Image:Waterbuck.jpg|Male Waterbuck, 16 November 2004, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Image:Pictures0028.jpg|Male Waterbuck, 28 May 2004, Masai Mara National Game Preserve, Kenya
Category:Marsh antelopes
Category:Mammals of Africa
Category:Fauna of Namibia
Category:Fauna of South Africa
Category:Fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Category:Fauna of Angola
Category:Fauna of the Republic of the Congo
Category:Fauna of West Africa
Category:Fauna of Zambia
Category:Fauna of Ethiopia
Category:Fauna of Sudan
Category:Fauna of East Africa
Category:Mammals of Kenya
Category:Fauna of Tanzania
Category:Megafauna of Africa
Related Images
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