Cape bushbuck

This article is about the Bushbuck antelope. For the 1991 computer game, see BushBuck Charms, Viking Ships & Dodo Eggs.

Bushbuck
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Bovinae
Genus:	Tragelaphus
Species:	T. scriptus
Binomial name
Tragelaphus scriptus (Pallas, 1766)

The Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) is an antelope that is found in forest and woodland throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Also called "bush antelope", this is used occasionally for any relativers with which it shares its habitat.

Bushbuck stand about 90 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 30 to 80 kilograms (depending on sex). Bushbuck have a light brown coat, with up to seven white stripes and white splotches on the sides. The muzzle is also white. Horns are found only on the males and they can reach over half a metre with only one twist.

Bushbuck are found in all types of bush, from open forest to dense woodland. They eat mainly browse but supplement their diet with any other plant matter they can reach. Bushbuck are active around 24 hours a day but tend to be nocturnal near human habitations. Bushbuck tend to be solitary, though some live in pairs.

All bushbucks live within a "home" area they will not normally leave this area, which is usually around 50,000 square metres on the savannah and much larger in the forest. These areas usually overlap other bushbuck home areas.

Close up of bull bushbuck from the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

References

• Template:IUCN2006

External links

• Bushbuck: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation