Harnessed bushbuck facts for kids
The northern bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) is a medium-sized antelope. You can find it across a large part of Sub-Saharan Africa. This type of bushbuck is now seen as different from the Cape bushbuck, which lives in southern and eastern Africa.
Quick facts for kids Bushbuck |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tragelaphus
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| Species: |
scriptus
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Bushbuck Family Tree
Scientists work to understand how different animals are related to each other. They often look at an animal's genes to figure this out.
In 2007, a study found 19 different groups of bushbucks based on their genes. Some of these groups were new to scientists. Later, in 2018, another study looked even closer at the genes of bushbucks. They found important differences between the northern bushbuck and the southern bushbuck. These differences were so clear that scientists now believe there are two main types of bushbucks.
The northern bushbuck was first described by a scientist named Pallas in 1766. He called it Antilope scripta. This is why the northern bushbuck still has scriptus in its scientific name today.
What Do They Look Like?
Bushbucks are generally smaller than some other types of antelopes. Their fur is usually a reddish or yellowish-brown color.
Some bushbucks have stripes on their bodies, like a harness. Scientists have noticed that male bushbucks in West Africa often have more stripes than those in East or Southern Africa. However, you can find striped bushbucks in many places where they live.
Where Do Bushbucks Live?
The northern bushbuck lives in many countries across Africa. You can find them in places like Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. They also live in the Niger River area of Nigeria.
Further east, they are found in Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, and up to the Nile River in South Sudan and northern Uganda. Their home range also includes Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northern Angola.
Bushbuck Habitat
Northern bushbucks are very common in the areas where they live. They can be found in many different types of environments. These include savannas with trees, areas where forests and savannas mix, and even rainforests.
They also live in forests on mountains and in places that are quite dry. However, you won't find them in the very deep, dense rainforests of the central Congo Basin.
