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 South Luangwa National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at South Luangwa National Park
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Nyala
Tragelaphus angasii
Puku
Kobus vardonii
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
Roan Antelope
Hippotragus equinus
Southern Reedbuck
Redunca arundinum
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
Sharpe's Grysbok
Raphicerus sharpei
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 South Luangwa National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Bushbuck sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 51 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Northern Bushbuck in South Luangwa National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Northern Bushbuck in South Luangwa National Park in our monthly data.