Also known as the Gray Rhebuck or Grey Rhebok
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
US Migratory Bird Act: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material
P. capreolus is prey for large predators of the African savannah. P. capreolus is also a host for many parasites, including lice, fleas and ticks (Horak, 1983). P. capreolus also is a consumer of grass and leaves of the African savannah and low mountains.
This species is predominantly a browser. Faecal analysis showed that dicotyledons comprised of 88 percent of its diet, with over 90 percent dicotyledons in winter and dicotyledon consumption declining by 10 percent in summer (Mills, 1997). The Vaal Rhebuck's diet consists of grasses and leaves (Nowak, 2001).
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
Pelea capreolus lives throughout South Africa, mainly in upland areas but descending onto sand dunes in the Cape. They are most numerous in strongly seasonal pastures above 1,000m, staying on the heights during rain but descending to lower slopes when during dry weather (Kingdon, 1997).
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
P. capreolus lives among rocks and tangled growth on mountain sides and plateaus, but where protected, it will venture to grassy valleys. It probably frequented such valleys regularly before being driven out by human activity (Nowak, 2001). Young tend to lie concealed away from mother, hidden in rocks, caves, or bushes (Grzimek, 1990).
Terrestrial Biomes: scrub forest
In the wild, P. capreolus has been reported to live 8-10 years. In captivity P. capreolus does not thrive and is rarely found in captivity (Nowak, 2001).
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 10.0 years.
P. capreolus is 1.15 to 1.25 m in length and weighs about 20 to 30 kilograms. The body is covered by hair that is woollier and curlier than that of all other antelopes, which may be a reason P. capreolus is often mistaken as a mountain goat. The upper parts are brownish gray, the face and legs are yellowish, and the underparts of the body and the tail are white (Grzimek, 1990). P. capreolus can be easily distinguished by its extremely long, pointed erect ears and by the absence of a bare patch below the ear. The animal's long narrow muzzle ends with a small mouth. P. capreolus has a swollen forehead and black-lidded eyes that are very prominent against a white surround (Kingdon, 1997). The horns, only found in males, are straight or slightly bent forward, upright, and 200-250mm in length. A naked area around the nostrils extends to the top of the nose and is swollen. It becomes studded with moisture when the animal is excited. Females have four mammae (Nowak, 2001).
Range mass: 20 to 30 kg.
Range length: 1150 to 1250 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
An appointed sentinel of the group watches for signs of danger, and when a threat is discovered, makes a cough-like grunt to alert the rest of the group. It then leads the group to less accessible ground (Nowak, 2001). The rhebuck has a jerky, rocking gait, which makes it hard for predators to capture. It is an agile climber and a good jumper. Also, males are extremely aggressive and are good defenders of their group (Palmer, 1988).
Known Predators:
Generally one male travels with a group of females and defends the group from other intruding males. Harem defense includes postural displays, snorting and stamping, and serious fighting (Kingdon, 1997). Males that are unable to win or maintain a territory are frequently solitary. Generally one member of each group acts as a sentinel while others feed or rest. If danger appears, the sentinel gives a warning grunt and leads the herd to more rugged country. Males are extraordinarily aggresive, often killing others of their sex during the rutting season and even killing and attacking sheep and goats.
Mating System: polygynous
Mating takes place for P. capreolus in April, when males fight over females. Births occur in November and December, early in the warm, wet season (Nowak, 2001). The single calf which is born generally is hidden away from the mother for the first few months of its life. Males become mature in about 18-21 months and then leave their group and begin to try to establish their own territory (Nowak, 2001).
Breeding season: April
Range number of offspring: 1 (low) .
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average gestation period: 8.7 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 18 to 21 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 18 to 21 months.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual
Average gestation period: 261 days.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care ; post-independence association with parents
