SANParks.org Forums

Hi all I am new here, very passionate about wildlife, could someone please identify this rodent for me? Pic taken in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South African side) between Twee Rivieren and Nossob thanks a lot in advance!

A Whistling Rat?

I don't have a living version from this one (which would make it a much easier).

Does anyone know's who's scull this is?

Hi BlackHarrier (one of my favourite raptors!) and Welcome!

I'm not convinced that your little rodent is a whistling rat, I think that the ears may be too large. Why not post your query in the Arid Parks what is this ... ?? thread. Jannie is sure to know!

Do you have any other shots of it?

|If I had to take a one off guess, without a size reference, I would say Hyena.

If you could also include where it was found, and give a size reference, that would be great!
Thanks!

Those teeth were made to crush bone!

Must be Hyena

It wasn't that big, maybe about 10 - 20 cm.
It was found between Lower Sabie and Croc bridge.

I think it's a meat eter, because of the teeth.
And the eye's are at the side from the head.

Google-ing some Hyena skulls will learn that this almost must be a Hyena.
Thanks for helping us out of this endless discussion

I saw this little bokkie along Darling Hills Road in October 2010. I saw it only for at the most a few seconds as it crossed the road and disappeared into the bush. At the time, I'd thought it was a steenbok, but now looking at my few pix (shot through the windscreen, hence the poor quality), I'm thinking that it may rather be a Cape grysbok, since the coat seems to be flecked and it lacks the ligher belly of the steenbok.

Arks, I would agree with cape grysbok

Yes, it's a Cape Grysbok.

i agree

Thanks all for confirming, first one I've ever seen!
(altho in retrospect, other briefly glimpsed bokkies along that road might also have been grysbok ... )

Hi forumites,

here are two photos of mine:


No. 1


No. 2

No 1. looks like a Steenbok to me and No. 2 like an Oribi. But the size and form of the ears of No. 1 and No. 2 are similar which means that No. 2 is also a Steenbok. The neck also looks similar on both photos.

What makes me think that No. 2 is an Oribi is the following:
- the horns are longer than the ears and much longer than the horns of No. 1
- the ears are not marked on inside as the ears of a Steenbok should be according to my guidebook (Carruther´s "The Wildlife of Southern Africa")
- like an Oribi No. 2 is pale on sides of the face, above the eyes and on throat (also according to the same guidebook)
- according to the same guidebook again No. 2 was resting on the ground like an Oribi with head up to watch for danger

Does anyone have an answer and an explanation? Are there maybe subspecies of Steenboks? Is it really that difficult to distinguish between different species from time to time? Or is it obvious and it is just me who cannot see the difference?

Hi Andreas

An Oribi would have a bare, dark spot beneath the ear. No 2 looks like a Steebok to me as well.