Cape Grysbok

Raphicerus melanotis

General Description

Scientific Name: Raphicerus melanotis

Subspecies: No Subspecies (debated)

Other common names: Southern Grysbok

Status: Least Concern (stable)

Population Estimate: 663,000

Population in Assessed Areas: Unassessed

Diet: Herbivore - mostly Browse, but also Grasses & Fruits, Nuts and Seeds

Male & Female Size: 8-12 Kgs

Trophy Size: Unknown

Generation Length: Unknown

Reproductive Season: Year Round

Time of Activity: Diurnal

Description: Most Cape Grysbok weigh between 8-12kgs and stand around 45-55cm tall, with both sexes being roughly the same size. Only males have horns, which are usually only 7-9 cm long, though sometimes longer on older males.

It has a rough, reddish sandy coat flecked in white. The head, neck and legs are less flecked and somewhat yellowish, while the inside of the ears, eye-rings, mouth area, throat and underside are white. There is a black "bridge" to the nose and a dark scent gland in front of the eye. Sometimes it is confused with the larger Common Duiker and Steenbok where their ranges overlap, though the Grysbok smaller body size, as well as it's shorter snout and smaller ears compared to steenbok dispels this confusion.

Ecology: Cape Grysbok are specifically adapted to the unique Cape Fynbos ecosystem, with their range also extending into Forest, Succulent Thicket and Succulent Karoo Biomes. They also occur in smaller numbers in the Nama Karoo and grassland biomes on the periphery in their range. It can also be found in orchard and vineyards in the area, with them and Common Duiker being blamed for extensive damage to young shoots in tea plantations in the Cedarberg. This only happens where suitable habitat is nearby.

Dense cover is an important habitat requirement, hence their presence in high-altitude grasslands of the north-eastern Cape depends on the proximity of forest fragments and bush clumps, though they may use long grass for cover. They're generally regarded as browsers (Stynder 2009). The inclusion of grass in the diet has also been reported (Manson 1974) but has been regarded as unimportant (Skinner and Chimimba 2005), with its importance fluctuating with environmental changes (Faith 2011). More recently, however, some studies have shown that the Cape Grysbok is a highly selective browser (Kigozi et al. 2008, Kerley et al. 2010). Furthermore, Kerley et al. (2010) reported significant selection for grasses in their study. This is an adaptable species and can survive in human-modified landscapes provided that vegetation with the required understory cover remains.

Cape Grysbok's most common predators are leopards, caracals, jackals, and large eagles. Lions and Hyenas are now very rare in their current range, and are rarely predated on them in these areas.

Behavior: Cape Grysbok are generally nocturnal, being active late in the afternoon. They seek out open areas for grazing under the cover of darkness. During the day, they can be found resting in bushes or in the shade of rocks. They are reported to be solitary animals, with their only sociality during mating. Each animal has a well-defined home territory. These are marked with defecation/urination sites and pre-orbital gland scent markings. Population density is low, with approximately one animal per square mile. When threatened, Grysbok will lie flat in the grass. If pursued, these animals will run with a zigzag-gallop and dive into a hole to avoid predation. Vocalizing (in the form of bleating screams) only occurs when an individual is caught.

Reproduction: Mating can occur year round, but generally intensifies during the winter, since most calves are born during the summer. Males are normally completely intolerant of each other, aggressively defending their territory from each other, both physically and through sent marking. It's unknown wether pairs of females and males help defend territories together, or if males will just mate with any female passing through. Once born, the calf will stay with the female for at least 6 months, before heading of on their own.

rare-cape-grysbok-antelope-raphicerus-600nw-276505892.webp

Conservation Analysis

Current & Historic range: Cape Grysbok mostly occurs in the Cape floristic community of South Africa, where it is endemic. It has been recorded in other regions in the eastern cape, and to the north of the western cape, but these reports are unreliable. Because of it's adaptability, it's historic range has remained largely intact, save from a few small areas were urban development is prevalent, or where agricultural activity has altered habitats to the extent that grysbok do not have adequate cover. It also hasn't experienced any expansion in range, due to either natural range expansion or artificial introduction.

Current & Historic Populations: Historic populations of Cape Grysbok were likely larger than they are today, due to the fact that todays populations face threats of habitat degradation. In 2003, the population in the Cape Fynbos region of South Africa was estimated at 322,977 individuals (Kerley et al. 2003), though this model is contested, and it's expected that current populations are somewhat lower. Hence it's recommended that populations should be studied more intensely, to accurately estimate total populations. They are still abundant in many areas, especially in protected reserves, national parks, or land areas where trophy hunting is used as a revenue source.

Threats to Species Survival: the biggest threats to the long term survival of Cape Grysbok is habitat degradation, the encroachment of invasive plant species, and poaching in some areas. Climate change is also predicted to play a larger role in the plight of this species in the coming decades, though this hasn't been documented on a significant scale as of yet.

Habitat degradation plays a particularly large part in this. An overabundance of large herbivores, both wild and domestic can lead to the loss of brush habitat that grysbok need to survive. additionally, clearing land for monoculture crops can also destroy important habitat, and can push grysbok out of cetrain areas. Poaching has led to local declines in some areas, especially where packs of dogs are used to flush grysbok out of the thick brush where they are usually safe.

Map of Cape Grysbok Distribution

Recommended Conservation Actions:

Increased protection from development and poaching in populations close to human settlements.
Increased monitoring of overgrazing in Grysbok range, to determine if habitat degradation is occurring.
Increase surveying capabilities of most of it's populations, especially outside of protected areas, where much about the status of this species is unknown.

Economic & Cultural Analysis

Ecotourism Value: Low

Hunting Value: Moderate

Meat Value: Moderate

Average Trophy Value: $500-900 USD

Meat Yield per Animal: 3-5 kg

Economic Value/Impacts: Cape Grysbok have significant economic value for an animal of their size, but it is still considerably less than other more common herbivores they share habitat with. Locals will hunt this species on occasion, and it does have significant value to international trophy hunters. It's a key member of the "Tiny 10" slam, and one of the most difficult to hunt. Their nocturnal nature means many have to be harvested during the night, something very difficult to do.

Their value to ecotourism areas is significantly less, as their small size and reclusive nature means they often aren't noticed, and if they are, they're often overshadowed by more charismatic megafauna.

Cultural Value: Cape Grysbok have likely been hunted by humans and our earlier Homo ancestors for millions of years, due to their small size, lack of defenses, and palatability. Their meat is said to be similar in taste to other antelope species, being very low in fat compared to domestic meats.

Back to Ungulates