Steenbok
(Raphicerus campestris)
Facts
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IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)
Facts about this animal
The steenbok is one of the dwarf antelopes. Its head-body length ranges from 70 - 95 cm, the shoulder height from 45 - 60 cm. The steenbok has a very short tail of only 4 - 6 cm length. Only the males have short vertical horns, which range in height from 9- 19 cm. The coat is reddish-fawn, with a white throat and belly. Steenboks have large, white lined ears. Their hooves are sharp and serve a variety of functions.
Did you know?
that steenbok mark their territories with dung-middens? These middens are connected by trails which, through use, become marked with secretions from the pedal glands.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | MAMMALIA |
| Order | ARTIODACTYLA |
| Suborder | RUMINANTIA |
| Family | BOVIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Raphicerus campestris |
| Name (English) | Steenbok |
| Name (French) | Raphicère champêtre |
| Name (German) | Steinböckchen |
| Name (Spanish) | Racifero común |
| Local names | Afrikaans: Steenbok, Vlakbok isiNdebele: Ingina, iqhina isiXhosa: Itshabanqa isiZulu: Iqhinaki Swahili: Dondoro oshiVambo: oMabundja otjiHerero: oMbuindja sePedi, seTswana: Phudufuduse Sotho: Thianechi Shona: Mhenesi Lozi: Kabu siSwati: Lingcinatshi Venda: Phuluvhuluxi Tsonga: Xipene |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Hans Hillewaert
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Southern and eastern Africa |
| Habitat | Savannah |
| Wild population | Excess of 600,000 (1999) (Red List IUCN 2011) |
| Zoo population | 32 reported to ISIS |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Requirement 73 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Road transport (according to the South African Standard SANS 10331): Transport in individual crates under tranquillization. The crates should be placed transversely on the transport vehicle, so that the heads of the animals face outwards.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
rjh
Why do zoos keep this animal
The steenbok is a very attractive small antelope that would fit very well into multispecies exhibits displaying the Southern African habitats where it occurs. Nevertheless, only very few zoos keep steenboks. this may be due to the fat that the steenbok is one of the more common antelopes that is still widely distributed even in areas where most of the larger species have become locally extinct.