Mountain Reedbuck
Redunca fulvorufula
Mountain Reedbuck grazes on grasses in African high-altitude rocky grasslands.
| Scientific name | Redunca fulvorufula |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Pofu wa Mlima |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Size | Male: weight approximately 30-50 kg, body length approximately 100-130 cm; female: slightly lighter, about 25-40 kg |
How to identify
Medium-sized body, coat color yellowish-brown with a faint reddish tint; males have ring-shaped curved horns, females are hornless; distinct white facial markings; short tail with black hair at the tip; slender long legs adapted for jumping.
Habitat
Mountain grasslands, shrublands, and rocky high-altitude areas, typically found above 1500 meters elevation.
Diet
Herbivorous, primarily feeding on herbaceous plants and tender leaves.
When it is active
Diurnal, with peak activity in early morning and late afternoon.
Where it lives
Distributed in the East African highlands, including mountainous regions of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania; also found in the Kenyan highlands and mountainous areas near Masai Mara.
How to spot it
Observe during early morning or late afternoon in mountain grasslands and shrub edges; remain quiet and use binoculars to identify horns and facial markings.
Photography tips
Use a telephoto lens; choose soft light during early morning or late afternoon; capture jumping behavior and horn features; select natural rocky and grassy backgrounds.
Threats
Habitat loss and fragmentation, overgrazing, human disturbance, and illegal hunting.
Similar species
Common reedbuck (Redunca redunca) differs by having a redder coat and shorter, more curved horns; Nile reedbuck is larger with different horn morphology.
