SANParks.org Forums

MOUNTAIN REEDBUCK
(Redunca Fulvorufula)

Ger: Bergriedbock.
Fre: Redunca de montagne.
Afr: Rooirietbok.
Xho, Zul: Inxala.

Mass: 19-38 kg.
Shoulder Height: 0,6-0,8 m.
Tail length: 25 cm.
ID Pointers:
- Grey-fawn upperparts.
- White underparts.
- Bushy tail.
- Forward-hooked horns.
Lifespan: +/- 10 yrs.
Main predators:
1. Lion.
2. Leopard.
3. Caracal.
4. Wild Dog.
5. Spotted Hyaena.
6. Cheetah.
Other predators:
1. Crocodile.
2. Large snakes.
Young also fall prey to:
1. Serval
2. Jackals
3. Eagles

DESCRIPTION:
- Soft & wooly coat.
- Grey-fawn upperparts.
- White underparts.
- Head & neck has reddish/ yellowish tinge.
- White underneath bushy tail.
Scent glands: Beneath ears & inguinal.
Senses: Very good sight, hearing & smell.
Horns: Only rams have horns which are straight with forward curved tips & are heavily ridged with smooth tips. Length: 15-38 cm.

DISTRIBUTION IN KNP:
Berg-en-dal / Pretoriuskop areas.

BEHAVIOUR:
Diurnal & nocturnal. Cows & calves form nursery herds of 2-6, but herds of 15 or more may be seen. Average home range: 0,3-0,75 km2 & overlaps several ram territories. Ram territories: 0,3 km2. At 9-12 months, young rams join bachelor herds.
Calls: Loud, shrill nasal whistle.
Alarm signals:
- Alert posture.
- Stamping.
- Freezing.
- Skulking.
- Style trotting & stotting.
- Raising bushy tail.
Aggression:
- Horn threats.
- Head tossing & nodding.
- Ground horning.
- Mock/real charges.
- Butting & chasing.

REPRODUCTION:
Single lamb of 3kg is born after a gestation of 7,5-8 months. Breeding in summer.

FOOD:
Grasses.

HABITAT:
Dry, grass covered, rocky mountainious slopes within proximity to water.

Sources used:
- Field Guide to the mammals of the Kruger National Park by Heike Schutze.
- Field Guide to the larger mammals of Africa by Chris & Tilde Swart.

Found in the following SANParks:
- Addo Elephant National Park.
- Karoo National Park.
- Golden Gate National Park.
- Mountain Zebra National Park.
- Kruger National Park.

Has anyone had a sighting of them or a photo would be great?

Not in Kruger I'm afraid. But have tons on the farm, kind of like the impala of the Eastern Cape.

@ Bwana: Yes, they are found in KNP, mostly in the Malelane Mountains but they occasionaly wonder off in the Pretoriuskop areas.

Lemombo mountains, just where you enter them on your way to Giriyondo. They were actually playing with the baboons!

WOW! DQ that sighting really needs to be recorded because in most of my field guides they said that Mountain Reedbuck were only found in the Berg-en-dal/ Pretoriuskop areas.

Well Done.

A very rare sighting.

DQ that looks like a Duiker.

In my fieldguide book are three different reedbuck species: Southern Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck and the Grey Rhebok, so which one is the Common Reedbuck?

I agree, you can see on the first pic the dark tufted crest on the head and a Mountain Reebuck is bigger.

Souther Reedbuck = Common Reedbuck. The one in your photo could be an immature Common Reedbuck or mature Mountain Reedbuck, its difficult to to tell the difference with it lying down. Nice sighting regardless.

Thanks Bwana, I didn't know that and yes, the one on the photo is an immature and probably a Common Reedbuck. Difficult to identify

Hi Guys,

It is actually very easy to distinguish a Mountain Reedbuck from a Common Reedbuck. Mountain Reedbuck are actually very small (slightly bigger than a Steenbok) the females have highly characteristic white shades of hair on their coats. Males coats are more yellowish. As for the Common Reedbuck they are about Impala size & are more yellow with patches of white all over their bodies.

From looking at the coat of DQ's Pic it looks to me like a Mountain Reedbuck but if I could see the face it would be more easy to distinguish.

Agree!

The guy that pointed them out to us was convinced they were mountain reedbuck. He seemed to be in the area often, and knowledgable. Unfortunately they were far away. I'll have a look if I can Photoshop some closeups. After the weekend that is.

But even if they are "common" ones, this is the first time I saw any animal playing with baboons. Actually enticing them to chase them.

A Mountain Reedbuck weighs exactly the same as a South African Springbuck, approximately 25 - 35kg on the hoof and is as tall and as long - much, much bigger than a steenbok. DQ's pics: look at the 2nd pic, the snout firstly is totally different to that of a Reedbuck, secondly the white tummy of a Mountain Reedbuck is very noticable, on males and females, thirdly the way the buck is running in the first pic, head down is the way a Duiker moves.
Here is a very bad picture captured from a movie showing some Mountain Reedbuck, check the colour variation between the neck and the body - which is a light grey: