Tragelaphus spekei gratus

(Sclater, 1880)

Vernacular names
English : Western sitatunga
French : Sitatunga, Guib d’eau

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetartiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known.

Identification
Body length of 163 cm, shoulder height of 97 cm and weight up to 140 kg. Males have large loosely spiraled horns and are dark brown with white markings on throat and face and white stripes on flanks. Females are rufous-brown and smaller.

Range and habitat
The subspecies occurs in western Africa as isolated populations in Senegal and from Nigeria to Gabon and DR Congo. Lives around tall and dense vegetation in swampy areas, including mangroves.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species is globally vulnerable to habitat loss and overhunting but many of its populations are still doing fine at this time.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, ESB in Europe

Observation

 

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