Cape Grysbok seen yesterday on an Aves Birding Tour at Strandfontein Pans, Western Cape, South Africa.

Cape Grysbok

The Cape or Southern Grysbok - Raphicerus melanotis - is a small antelope that is endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa. The Cape grysbok's native habitat is the "Fynbos biome" of the Western Cape South Africa. A shy, solitary, nocturnal buck that is rarely seen.

Description

It has a rough, reddish sandy coat flecked in white. The head, neck and legs are less flecked and somewhat yellowish, while the inside of the ears, eye-rings, mouth area, throat and underside are white.

Food

The grysbok is mainly a browser and are highly selective feeders, consuming large quantities of browse and fruit and 9% grass. The major of the intake comes from a diet that consists of vegetation with a high moisture content, contributing to the Cape grysbok’s independency of drinking water.

Breeding

Lambs are born in the summer months after a gestation period of about 6 months. The lambs stay hidden for the first couple of weeks.

Conservation Status – Least Concern