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 Tsavo West National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Tsavo West National Park
Lesser Kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
East African Oryx
Oryx beisa
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Grant's Gazelle
Nanger granti
Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
Gerenuk
Litocranius walleri
Steenbok
Raphicerus campestris
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 Tsavo West National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Bushbuck sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Northern Bushbuck in Tsavo West National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Northern Bushbuck in Tsavo West National Park in our monthly data.