Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Silhouette: Robert Hering · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
- GenusTragelaphus (Spiral-horned Antelopes)
- SpeciesTragelaphus scriptus (Northern Bushbuck)
About the Northern Bushbuck
The harnessed bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) or northern bushbuck, is a medium-sized antelope, widespread in sub-Saharan-Africa. The harnessed bushbuck species has been separated from the Cape bushbuck, a southern and eastern species.
In a 2007 study, 19 genetically-based groupings were found, some of which do not correspond to previously described subspecies; eight of these were grouped under the nominate taxon. Former subspecies included as synonyms to the nominate taxon are phaleratus, bor and dodingae.
Hassanin et al. (2018) found an mtDNA/nuclear DNA discordance between scriptus and sylvaticus clades. Their phylogenetic analyses showed that the scriptus (northern) lineage is a sister-group of sylvaticus (southern) lineage in the nuclear tree, whereas it has nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) haplotypes in the mitochondrial tree. They also found different karyotypes (chromosome numbers and arrangements), with those of scriptus deriving from the nyala. They concluded that scriptus (but not sylvaticus) had hybridized with an "extinct species closely related to T. angasii" in ancient times; and that "the division into two bushbuck species is supported by the analyses of... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Northern Bushbuck in Garden Route National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Garden Route National Park
Nyala
Tragelaphus angasii
Blue Duiker
Philantomba monticola
Cape Grysbok
Raphicerus melanotis
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Bontebok/Blesbok
Damaliscus pygargus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Khama
Alcelaphus caama
Bush Duiker
Sylvicapra grimmia
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Northern Bushbuck in Garden Route National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Bushbuck sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 395 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Northern Bushbuck in Garden Route National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Northern Bushbuck in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.