Scientific Name:

Redunca Arundinum

Description:

Color in southern reedbucks is extremely variable. They can have a light yellowish brown to a gray brown coat. They have a white underside and chin with light tan streaks on the sides of the head and white rings around the eyes. There are white and black markings on the forelegs. The tail is bushy with a fluffy, white underside. Only males have horns, which emerge around the sixth month of life. The horns are strongly ridged, growing to be 30 to 45 cm in length, and form a "V". As described by Nowak (1995), they jut from the head first pointing backwards gently, then curve upward and extend out at the tip. There is a bare glandular spot in both males and females below the ears.

Habitat:

The habitat of R. arundinum consists of marshy areas that have an abundance of water and tall grasses. This antelope’s natural habitat is wet grasslands. Unfortunately, this type of habitat has shrunk significantly, with a subsequent reduction in the number of Reedbuck.

Distribution:

Southern reedbucks, Redunca arundinum, are found across much of south central Africa. They are found in southern Congo and in southern Tanzania, throughout Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and in the northern part of South Africa. Originally,

Size:

Animals range in length from 134 to 167 cm.

Weight:

On average, males weigh about 68 kg and females weigh about 48 kg.

Lifespan:

The average lifespan of common reedbucks is between 10 and 12 years. There have not been many studies on longevity in reedbucks. Bohor reedbucks have been known to live in captivity for 18 years.

Scientific Name:

Alcelaphus Caama

Description:

The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. It is the only animal classified in the genus Alcelaphus. The word 'hartebeest' comes from the Dutch words 'hart'(heart) and 'beest'(beast/animal). The Red Hartebeest is a large, reddish-fawn antelope with sloping back and long narrow face. Both sexes have heavily ringed horns. Of the 12 subspecies described in Africa, the Red Hartebeest is the only one which occurs in South Africa. Due to its re-introduction onto game farms and nature reserves, it has a wider distribution today.

Habitat:

Found in semi-desert savanna. May occur in open woodland but avoids dense woodland. Prefers open plains such as grassplains, floodplains, grassveld, vleis and strips of grass around pans. Independant of water.

Distribution:

Preferred habitat is the dry, arid regions of Namibia, the Kalahari, southern Botswana, northwestern South Africa.

Size:

Measure 1.3 m at the shoulders.

Weight:

Adult bulls weigh 150 kg while cows only weigh 120 kg.

Lifespan:

15-16 years.

Scientific Name:

Struthio Camelus

Description:

Unmistakeable. Huge (stands 2 m tall), terrestrial bird. Males are black and white, females gray brown. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at speeds of about 65 km/h (40 mph), the top land speed of any bird. The Ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any bird species.

Habitat:

Ostriches are currently restricted to drier and sandy regions of central and southern Africa.

Distribution:

Up until the mid 20th century, ostriches occurred naturally in southwestern Asia, the Arabian peninsula, and Africa. They have since been hunted to extinction except in sub-Saharan Africa.

Size:

Ostriches can be between 1.8 and 2.7 m (6 and 9 ft) in height, while female Ostriches range from 1.7 to 2 m (5.5 to 6.5 ft).

Weight:

Ostriches usually weigh from 93 to 130 kg (200 to 285 lb).

Lifespan:

An Ostrich can live up to 75 years.