Sharpe's Grysbok - Interesting facts

Afrikaans name: Tropiese grysbok

Sharpe's Grysbok in Kruger National Park

Photo © Steven Herbert

Raphicerus sharpei

Interesting facts about Sharpe's Grysbok

The Sharpe's Grysbok is a shy and uncommon, if not rare, antelope. The name 'Grysbok' is Afrikaans and is a reference to the grey fleck that these antelope have in their otherwise reddish-brown coat.

Sharpe's Grysbok is about 50 cm in height at the shoulder and only the rams have horns. The horns are normally around 6 cm in length, but some individuals may have horns reaching 10 cm. They weigh between 7 and 8 kg with males being slightly heavier than females. The coats of males can also be darker than that of females of a similar age.

The Sharpe’s Grysbok is similar in looks to the Cape Grysbok but, as its name suggests, the latter is only found in the Cape. Some publications regard the Cape and Sharpe’s Grysbok as subspecies rather than separate species. The only other close relative they have is the Steenbok.

They are active in the early morning and late afternoon into the evening. During the day they retreat into dense bush to rest. They normally occur singly but may also be seen in pairs.

Their preferred habitat is low dense bush with scattered patches of grassland. They may also be found on hills with similar habitat or along the base of hills.

The Sharpe’s Grysbok is preyed on by a number of predators including Lion, Leopard, Caracal and South African Rock Python. When threatened by a predator they will lie close to the ground and remain there until the predator is around 30 to 40 metres away. They will then run away weaving between bushes and rocks and not looking back until they believe that they are safe. They then dive into thick bush or grass and seemingly disappear.

Above - Females do not have horns

Photo © Steven Herbert

The main food of this small antelope is leaves browsed from bushes. It also eats grass, fruit, and flowers. It occasionally visits fields of cultivated crops at night to feed. They do not need to be near water and presumably get enough liquid from the food that they eat. They will often do their small droppings in the same place resulting in little piles.

Very little is known about the breeding habits of the Sharpe's Grysbok other than the female gives birth to a single lamb. The birth may occur at any time during the year but there is a peak in mid-summer. The gestation period has been measured at 200 days.

This small antelope is found along the eastern regions of Africa as far north as Tanzania. In South Africa they occur from northern KwaZulu-Natal through the eastern parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 238

Wild Ways - 2nd Edition - Author: Peter Apps - Published: 2000 - Page: 162

What Antelope is That? - Author: Paul Rose - Published: 1967 - Page: 35

The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa - Author: P. Briggs - Published: 2020 - Page: 334

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 108

The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 2011 - Page: 58

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 75

Signs of the Wild - 5th Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1996 - Page: 151

Signs of the Wild - 3rd Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1986 - Page: 167

Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 1987 - Page: 117

Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Published: 1980 - Page: 98

Maberlys Mammals of Southern Africa - Revised edition - Author: Richard Goss - Published: 1986 - Page: 277

Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Published: 1986 - Page: 178

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Published: 1987 - Page: 104

go! - Issue 151 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 23

go! - Kruger Special Edition - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 39

Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar et al. - Published: 1987 - Page: 124

Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2001 - Page: 218

Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1997 - Page: 188

Chris and Tilde Stuarts Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 1st Edit - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1988 - Page: 218

An Introduction to the Larger Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Joanna Dalton - Published: 1987 - Page: 249

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 27

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Published: 1999 - Page: 91

A Field Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife - 3rd - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2000 - Page: 93

Wikipedia

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List of South African Mammals