Subfamily
Reduncinae
Rhebok, reedbucks,
and waterbucks |
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The African subfamily Reduncinae is a group of medium- to large-sized
grazers, most of which have strong ties to water. There are three distinct
genera, each of which are easily distinguishable and specialized for different
habitats. Geographical separation has lead to the evolution of three
North-South species-pairs (kob and puku, bohor and southern reedbuck, and
Nile lechwe and lechwe) - these pairs fulfill the same ecological role in
different regions.
Although currently restricted to Africa, reduncine antelope first appear
in the fossil record of Eurasia 7.4 million years ago; fossils from African
deposits are known from around 6.6 million years ago. There are
two tribes within this subfamily:
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Reduncini - reedbucks and waterbucks
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Peleini - rhebok
The rhebok, Pelea capreolus, is an evolutionarily enigmatic species
and is sometimes placed in a separate subfamily, Peleinae - only recently
has this species been allied with the reedbucks and waterbucks. The
temperate montane habitat of the rhebok has lead to morphological convergence
with other ungulate groups from similar niches, notably sheep and goats
(Caprini).
All species within this subfamily have long hair; the largest species
(Kobus) are shaggy and distinctly oily, while the coats of smaller
species (Redunca, Pelea) tend to resemble fleece. Preorbital
glands are absent in all species except for Kobus kob. Within
this subfamily, horns are present in males only. In the tribe Reduncini,
the horns curl forward at the tips, while they are needle-like and straight
in the rhebok. In all species, the horns have basal annulations. |
The Reduncinae Family
Tree
(branch lengths are not proportional to
time)
Click on the species above to learn
more,
or jump to the Reduncinae Species
List
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Literature Cited
Estes, R. D. 1991. The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: including
hoofed mammals, carnivores, primates. Los Angeles: University of California
Press.
Kingdon J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. London
and New York: Academic Press, NaturalWorld.
Vrba, E. S., and G. B. Schaller. 2000. Phylogeny of Bovidae based
on behavior, glands, skulls, and postcrania. In Antelopes, Deer,
and Relatives. Edited by E.S.Vrba and G.B.Schaller. New
Haven & London: Yale University Press. pp. 203-222.
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