Steenbok
Raphicerus campestris
Steenbok is a small antelope feeding on leaves and fruits in African dry savannas and woodlands.
| Scientific name | Raphicerus campestris |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Kudu mdogo |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Cervidae |
| Size | Male: approximately 7-11 kg; Female: approximately 7-10 kg |
How to identify
Small-sized, shoulder height about 45-60 cm; males have slender, backward-curving horns, females lack horns; coat reddish-brown with lighter belly and inner limbs; distinct white facial stripes; short, pale-colored tail.
Habitat
Open woodland savanna, bushland, open forests and grasslands, commonly found in dry or semi-arid areas.
Diet
Herbivorous, primarily feeding on tender leaves, herbaceous plants, shrub leaves, and fruits.
When it is active
Diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon.
Where it lives
Mainly distributed in southern Africa including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe; less common in Kenya and the Masai Mara region.
How to spot it
Look for them at dawn or dusk in open woodland savanna and bush edges; highly alert and agile, use binoculars for observation.
Photography tips
Use soft morning light to capture alert expressions and slender horn features; photograph from a distance with telephoto lens to avoid disturbance.
Threats
Habitat loss and fragmentation; hunting pressure in localized areas.
Similar species
Similar to Oribi (Oribi) but smaller, with thinner, backward-curving horns; differs from Oribi in facial white stripe patterns.
