It is similar in size to the gray duiker, but has a stockier body and shaggy fur over the hindquarters. It stands about 20" (45–60 cm) at the shoulders and weighs only 7–11.5 kg. Its coat is reddish-brown streaked with white; eye-rings, muzzle, throat and underside are off-white. The males have stubby horns, which are widely spaced. Sharpe's grysbok has a short, deep muzzle with large mouth and heavy molars for grinding. The short neck and head on a long-legged body result in a high-rumped posture when browsing.
Habitsedit
Although widespread, Sharpe's grysbok is infrequently seen. Males and females seem to form brief associations, but the species is usually encountered singly. Territory is marked with dung middens. Their habitat is rocky hill country, but preferring fertile zones on the lower slopes. They are nocturnal browsers and spend the day in the protective cover of tall grass or shrubs. They are extremely timid and will run away at the first sign of anything unusual, although this flight is accompanied "short stamping hops";[2] they move well away from where the disturbance occurred before stopping (unlike steenbok, which stop and look back).[3] Sharpe's Grysbok are reported to take refuge in aardvark burrows, like steenbok.
Sharpe's grysbok browse on leaves, buds, herb and fruits—in the dry season, their food is typically tough (for which their teeth and jaws are adapted). Grazed grass makes up about 30% of their diet.[2] Like the Cape grysbok they use a communal latrine and mark sticks in its vicinity with pre-orbital gland secretions.[4]
Taxonomyedit
The closely related Cape (or southern) grysbok (R. melanotis) occurs in the western Cape region. Haltenorth and Diller[5] consider R. sharpei as a subspecies of R. melanotis.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raphicerus sharpei.
^IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2016). "Raphicerus sharpei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19307A50193414. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T19307A50193414.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ abKingdon, Jonathan. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego & London. Pp. 386-387. (ISBN0-12-408355-2)
^Smithers, Reay H.N. 1971. The Mammals of Botswana. Museum Memoir No. 4. The Trustees of the National Museum of Rhodesia, Salisbury [Harare], Rhodesia [Zimbabwe]. Pp. 221–222.
^Chris; Stuart, Tilde (2000). A field guide to the tracks and signs of Southern and East African wildlife (3rd ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 142. ISBN1868725588. Retrieved 30 July 2015.[permanent dead link]
^Haltenorth, Theodor and Helmut Diller. 1980. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa including Madagascar. Collins, London. Pp. 53–54. (ISBN0-00-219778-2)
Ellerman, J.R., T.C.S. Morrison-Scott and R.W. Hayman. 1953. Southern African Mammals 1758 to 1951: A Reclassification. British Museum (Natural History), London. P. 186.
External linksedit
Photos of Sharpe's Grysbok
March 18, 2024
sharpe, grysbok, sharpe, northern, grysbok, raphicerus, sharpei, small, solitary, antelope, that, found, from, tropical, south, eastern, africa, male, female, kruger, national, parkconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, euk. Sharpe s or northern grysbok Raphicerus sharpei is a small shy solitary antelope that is found from tropical to south eastern Africa Sharpe s grysbokMale and female in the Kruger National ParkConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ArtiodactylaFamily BovidaeSubfamily AntilopinaeGenus RaphicerusSpecies R sharpeiBinomial nameRaphicerus sharpeiThomas 1897range Contents 1 Range 2 Description 3 Habits 4 Taxonomy 5 References 6 External linksRange editThey are found in the Transvaal South Africa the Caprivi Strip Namibia Botswana Mozambique Zimbabwe Zambia Malawi and Tanzania to Lake Victoria Description editIt is similar in size to the gray duiker but has a stockier body and shaggy fur over the hindquarters It stands about 20 45 60 cm at the shoulders and weighs only 7 11 5 kg Its coat is reddish brown streaked with white eye rings muzzle throat and underside are off white The males have stubby horns which are widely spaced Sharpe s grysbok has a short deep muzzle with large mouth and heavy molars for grinding The short neck and head on a long legged body result in a high rumped posture when browsing Habits editAlthough widespread Sharpe s grysbok is infrequently seen Males and females seem to form brief associations but the species is usually encountered singly Territory is marked with dung middens Their habitat is rocky hill country but preferring fertile zones on the lower slopes They are nocturnal browsers and spend the day in the protective cover of tall grass or shrubs They are extremely timid and will run away at the first sign of anything unusual although this flight is accompanied short stamping hops 2 they move well away from where the disturbance occurred before stopping unlike steenbok which stop and look back 3 Sharpe s Grysbok are reported to take refuge in aardvark burrows like steenbok Sharpe s grysbok browse on leaves buds herb and fruits in the dry season their food is typically tough for which their teeth and jaws are adapted Grazed grass makes up about 30 of their diet 2 Like the Cape grysbok they use a communal latrine and mark sticks in its vicinity with pre orbital gland secretions 4 Taxonomy editThe closely related Cape or southern grysbok R melanotis occurs in the western Cape region Haltenorth and Diller 5 consider R sharpei as a subspecies of R melanotis References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raphicerus sharpei IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2016 Raphicerus sharpei IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T19307A50193414 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 1 RLTS T19307A50193414 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 a b Kingdon Jonathan 1997 The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals Academic Press San Diego amp London Pp 386 387 ISBN 0 12 408355 2 Smithers Reay H N 1971 The Mammals of Botswana Museum Memoir No 4 The Trustees of the National Museum of Rhodesia Salisbury Harare Rhodesia Zimbabwe Pp 221 222 Chris Stuart Tilde 2000 A field guide to the tracks and signs of Southern and East African wildlife 3rd ed Cape Town Struik p 142 ISBN 1868725588 Retrieved 30 July 2015 permanent dead link Haltenorth Theodor and Helmut Diller 1980 A Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa including Madagascar Collins London Pp 53 54 ISBN 0 00 219778 2 Ellerman J R T C S Morrison Scott and R W Hayman 1953 Southern African Mammals 1758 to 1951 A Reclassification British Museum Natural History London P 186 External links editPhotos of Sharpe s Grysbok Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sharpe 27s grysbok amp oldid 1154176054, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
