Southern reedbuck

Scientific name: Redunca arundinum

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small antelope with a tawny to greyish-brown coat and white underparts. Males carry short, upright horns (7–9 cm); females are hornless. Sexual dimorphism is marked: males noticeably smaller and more compact than females.

Size and weight

Males 4–6 kg, body length 50–65 cm; females 5–7 kg, body length 55–70 cm.

Habitat

Southern reedbuck inhabit reed beds, papyrus swamps, and marshy grasslands adjacent to water. They prefer altitudes from sea level to approximately 2,000 m, favouring dense vegetation near permanent or semi-permanent water sources.

Distribution

Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa from Guinea and Cameroon east to Tanzania and south to Zambia and Zimbabwe. Found in freshwater reed and papyrus habitat across savanna and woodland zones.

Diet

Primary grazer on fresh grasses and sedges; supplements with forbs and aquatic vegetation, with diet varying by seasonal water and plant availability.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, active during dawn and dusk; solitary or in pairs, occasionally small groups. Move quietly through reed beds; use whistling alarm calls when disturbed.

Hunting tips

Look for well-used trails through reed beds and distinctive droppings clustered near water edges. Approach from downwind, using cover of dense vegetation and water courses. Early morning or late afternoon stalks along reed margins are most productive; move slowly and pause frequently to listen for movement or alarm calls.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 7 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.