|
Mammal. Despite their name, waterbucks are not fond of swimming, but they always live near water and will wade in to hide from predators. Waterbucks don't form herds. Females range alone or in pairs and young males form small bachelor groups until old enough to stake out individual territories, fighting others with their horns. Only male waterbucks have horns, which are ringed and grow up to a meter (40 inches) long in the oldest bucks. Weighing in at 150 to 225 kg (330 to 500 pounds), these short-legged animals only stand about 1.3 meters (50 inches) tall at the shoulder. Males are 25 percent larger than females. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Kobus ellipsiprymnus |
Up to 15 years |
| Diet |
| Herbivore. These grazers primarily feed on coarse grass that other animals don't like, and they drink large amounts of water. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Mainly hyenas, leopards, and lions; also cheetahs, hunting dogs, and crocodiles. |
| Habitat |
| Always near permanent freshwater in savanna grasslands, forests and woodlands with rivers throughout Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. |
