Origin
The Marsh Antelope belongs to the order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. The risk of extinction of this species is low, the number of specimens is high. The swamp antelope is one of the most common wildebeest species in Africa.
The group of hoofed mammals includes several species of antelopes of smaller size, from which we notice the Marsh Antelope (Kobus kob).
It lives in regions from the west to the east of the African continent, Senegal, Uganda, Sudan, Nigeria. This graceful animal has the habit in case of danger to take refuge preferably in the water, without being a mammal related to the aquatic environment.
This explains why it is found in a habitat consisting of hilly and floodplain areas with grassy vegetation, less forested Savanna sites, Plains and wet meadows.
The swamp Antelope (Kobus kob) can be found near permanent water sources, frequents wet savannas, floodplains and forest edges. Females prefer places with high visibility to allow the identification of available males. This preference can also be explained by the fact that they want to avoid predators.
Feeding the swamp Antelope
The swamp Antelope (Kobus kob) is a herbivorous animal, it feeds on grass and reeds, traveling very long distances near a water source.
Its food consists of herbs and plants, and sometimes when it enters the water it also consumes aquatic vegetation.
Appearance swamp Antelope
The swamp antelope is distinguished by the pound-shaped ringed horns of the male (which can reach up to 69 cm in length). Adult specimens have a body length of 1.3-2.4 m and a weight of 50-300 kg.
Sexual dimorphism in this species is not very pronounced. The male is larger than the female and more imposing in its robust appearance. Both specimens have the body covered by coarse and short hair whose cinnamon-brown coloration appears predominantly, both on the dorsal and lateral areas of the body, as well as on the limbs on the outside, on the neck and head area.
The ventral part of the body is white. The chin, muzzle, areas around the eyes and the lower part of the neck are white as well. The female differs from the male in that it has a slightly lighter body color and has horns.
The head is well proportioned to the body, the neck is long, thick and muscular, the muzzle is narrow but quite strong. On either side of the head appear large and gentle eyes, which have dark brown or black Iris.
The ears are long and mobile, covered with white hair on the inside and brown on the outside. Visual and auditory acuity are well developed, as is the sense of smell.
The limbs are long and thin, hoofed, their lower part is dark brown to black, and the inner one is white. The tail is 10-45 cm long, covered with brown hair above and white below.
Only males show horns.
Swamp Antelope behavior
Swamp antelopes live in fairly large groups, numbering 15-40 specimens (females and their young). Males are territorial and live solitary, only during the breeding season they join groups of females.
Each male chooses an area and defends it from intruders stubbornly, so fights between them are given both during the rut to win the right to mate with females but also during the rest of the year to defend their territory.
These animals are solidary to each other, very sociable in the sense that they pay attention to the environment and in case of danger they announce themselves through very loud sounds (like a kind of thick and shrill bahait) and so all the Antelopes within the group begin to flee.
They have the ability to run very fast (with speeds of about 50 km/ h) and make high jumps (up to 1.5 m). The most vulnerable to predators are young antelopes and sick or old ones that run a little harder.
The larger the group they belong to, the more likely antelopes are to survive against predators. In their natural environment, their biggest enemies are the hyena, cheetah, lion, crocodile, python, leopard and wild dog.
Breeding Marsh Antelope
In this species the female has a gestation period of 8 months, after which she makes a single cub. It is breastfed and hidden in the tall grasses by the mother for a month and a half, then walks alongside her in the herd.
Young female specimens reach sexual maturity at the age of 12 months, males a little later. They choose a separate territory only when they reach the age of 3 and are strong enough to defend it.
Males do not contribute to the growth of offspring. The swamp antelope has a life expectancy of 17 years.
