Sitatunga

(Tragelaphus spekei)

Also known as Swamp antelope, water kudu.

Live: Central West Africa, as far south as the Zambezi.

Habitat: Swampy ground in forests and among reeds and papyrus. Often found in stagnant water, on islands in lakes and large rivers.

Diet: They eat water and swamp plants, fresh grass and some leaves and twigs.

Gestation: 7½ - 8½ months

Longevity: 19 years

Status: Almost or completely extinct on the west coast of Africa, the same in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Threatened in many places through poaching and drying of swamps. Rare and shy.
General:
Statistics:
Body length: buck 125 - 170cm, doe 115 - 150cm; tail: 18 - 30cm
Height to shoulder: buck 85 - 125cm, doe 75 - 105cm
Weight: buck 70 - 120kg, doe 40 - 105kg; at birth: ~ 4kg
Gestation: Number of offspring: 1 rarely 2
Weaning: after 6 months
Sexual maturity: 2 - 2½ years
Life span: around 19 years
Male = buck
Female = doe
Young = fawn
5 subspecies
Related to: Bushbuck, Nyala, Mountain Nyala, Kudus.
They are in the subfamily of spiral-horned antelope, as is the nilgai.
Characteristics:
Colour can vary between individuals, particularly females. Subspecies also differ in colour. Females are red-brown with white markings (circular spots) on face and body. Old bucks are usually brownish black with less conspicuous markings than females and juvenile males.

Rump is higher than withers (shoulders).
Horns - males only. Up to 92cm long with up to 1½ twists lengthwise.
Sitatunga are well-adapted to living in swamps. Their long slender legs are tipped with two narrow main hooves, 10cm long, which spread widely when the antelope walks in mud. Farther up its foot are two false hooves 2 - 3cm long, which are only effective when the mud is particularly deep and help to prevent the animal sinking further into it.

Sitatunga are good swimmers, sometimes submerging in water except for the tips of their noses, especially when a predator is nearby. When disturbed, they will always run toward water.
They rest during the day in swamps or water, coming out to graze at dusk.

Sitatunga tend to stay in one area and live by themselves, in pairs or a small group. Sometimes they join larger groups when flooding forces them to higher ground.

Young calves lie concealed away from their mother, often in high places to remain dry.
Predators consist of crocodile, leopard, large snakes, and occasionally lion.