Observations on Springbok Populations

Bigalke, R. C.

doi:10.1080/00445096.1970.11447381

Cited by 25 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 2 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…On 27th March, 1962, seven estimated to be six months old, were seen in a bachelor herd totalling 47 on Benfontein. They may have been the offspring of ewes which lambed for a second time in autumn, since in the year in question there was a distinct autumn lamb crop (Bigalke 1970). No further similar observations were made, and it must be concluded that juvenile males usually join bachelor herds rather later in their first year, most of them probably when about one year old.…”

Section: D) Bachelor Herdsmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Field work was done by the methods and in the areas previously described (Bigalke 1970), most observations being made in the Etosha Game Park, South West Africa and in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, as well as on the farms Rooipoort and Benaauwdheidsfontein (here abbreviated to Benfontein), near Kimberley, Cape Province.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been shown in an earlier publication (Bigalke 1970) that springbok, like many other gregarious bovids, occur mainly in mixed herds of adults and juveniles of both sexes, in bachelor herds and as solitary males.…”

Section: B) Winter Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a previous publication (Bigalke 1970), some results of a general study of the springbok, Antidorcas marsupia/is, were presented. The account dealt with body weight, reproduction, herd composition and the structure of several populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Springbok drink but can survive in waterless areas. Open or semi-open habitats are preferred and the factors influencing the preference are discussed.In a previous publication (Bigalke 1970), some results of a general study of the springbok, Antidorcas marsupia/is, were presented. The account dealt with body weight, reproduction, herd composition and the structure of several populations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Bigalke

1972

Zoologica Africana

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The stance and attitudes of the springbok are found to be similar to those of other gazelles. Gaits used are a rack-like walk (passgang), a trot and a gallop; display trot, the stott and the pronk are considered to be ritualised gaits of increa~ing intensity. Urination and defecation and comfort behaviour are described. Social behaviour is discussed and mixed herds, bachelor herds and solitary territorial males are shown to occur. Territorial marking is performed by taking up conspicuous positions, horn sweeping and ritualised defecation-urination. Mating behaviour resembles that of other gazelles and harem herds are common although some copulation was seen in larger groups. Agonistic behaviour involves little ritual display. Females and young form temporary herds; the young lie out and thereafter associate in "kindergarten" group!>. Communication is by various calls and by visual signals of which the erection of the dorsal fan is the most striking. Morning and evening peaks of activity occur.Previous studies of food eaten are reviewed and the results of rumen sample analysis presented. Karroid shrubs and the leaves of several bushes and trees were found to be the dominant food in June and July. Springbok drink but can survive in waterless areas. Open or semi-open habitats are preferred and the factors influencing the preference are discussed.In a previous publication (Bigalke 1970), some results of a general study of the springbok, Antidorcas marsupia/is, were presented. The account dealt with body weight, reproduction, herd composition and the structure of several populations. The purpose of this paper is to describe various aspects of springbok behaviour observed in the course of the same study. Particular attention is given to the composition of the diet, as deduced from analysing rumen samples collected during the winter months.Since the field work was terminated in 1964, a general account of the behaviour of the gazelles, among which the springbok is included, has appeared (Walther 1968). The springbok was not studied in detail and observations were confined to captive animals. Despite these limitations, there is close agreement between the behaviour patterns described for the gazelles in general, and for the springbok in particular, and my own findings.Walther uses the term 'gazelle' for the six genera Anti/ope, Antidorcas, Procapra, Gazella, Ammodorcas, and Litocranius. He regards them as members of the bovid subfamily Gazellinae, sensu Haltenorth (I 963), except that this author separates Ammodorcas from the other fivewhich Walther considers a mistake. Walther equates his Gazellinae with the traditional subfamily Antilopinae.In the most recent taxonomic account of the African Bovidae, Ansell (I 968) rejects Halternorth's terminology and reverts partly to Simpson's ( 1945) classification, using subfamily Antilopinae with the tribes Antilopini and Neotragini. However, Ansell excludes Ammodorcas and Aepyceros, both of which were included in Antilopinae, Antilopini by Simpson.Zoologica Africana 7 (1...

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Section: D) Bachelor Herdsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: B) Winter Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Bigalke

1972

Zoologica Africana

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Seasonality and seal exploitation in the southwestern Cape, South Africa

Marean¹

1986

Afr Archaeol Rev

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Environmental, ecological, and paleoanthropological implications of the late Pleistocene mammalian fauna from Equus Cave, northern Cape Province, South Africa

1991

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The late Pleistocene deposits of Equus Cave, northern Cape Province, South Africa, have provided more than 30,000 taxonomically identifiable mammal bones from 48 species. Context, associations, and features of the bone assemblage implicate brown hyenas as the main accumulators. The fauna is significant mainly because (1) it supplements previous evidence that regional climate was cooler and possibly also somewhat moister during part(s) of the late Pleistocene, but deviated less from the historic norm than in areas farther south; (2) it shows that Bond's springbok, which became extinct in the early Holocene, differed from the surviving common springbok not only in important morphological respects but also in reproductive pattern; and (3) it sustains earlier suggestions that an abundance of carnivores, a paucity of small hard bones, and increase in the cranial/postcranial ratio with species size, and exclusively attritional mortality profiles are features that tend to differentiate assemblages accumulated by brown hyenas from those accumulated by people. In addition, pending firmer dating, the fragmentary human fossils from Equus Cave may support an exclusively African origin for anatomically modern humans.

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Observations on Springbok Populations

Cited by 25 publications

References 2 publications

Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Seasonality and seal exploitation in the southwestern Cape, South Africa

Environmental, ecological, and paleoanthropological implications of the late Pleistocene mammalian fauna from Equus Cave, northern Cape Province, South Africa

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