Sitatunga
Tragelaphus Spekii
CLASS: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
FAMILY: Bovidae
Conservation Status:
Least Concern
HABITAT
JUNGLE
DIET
HERBIVOROUS
SOCIAL LIFE GREGARIOUS
WEIGHT
70-76 Kg
GESTATION
241 DAYS
The sitatunga is a beautiful antelope with a copper coat marked with white stripes. This species is sexually dimorphic, which means males and females do not look alike. Males are darker and have wavy horns. They are competent swimmers that thrive in swampy habitats.
The way they walk looks somewhat slouchy and it is because of their very long hooves, at about 18cm long, providing a better stand on muddy ground to avoid sinking of the leg and getting stuck.
Although listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, habitat loss is considered the greatest threat to the survival of sitatunga in the wild.