Bovidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
text
2011
2011-08-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals
444
779
book chapter
58516
10.5281/zenodo.6512484
67b52095-db4b-43f8-a661-4aced0511111
978-84-96553-77-4
6512484
273.
Zambian Klipspringer
Oreotragus centralis
French:
Oréotrague de
Zambie
/
German:
Sambia-Klippspringer
/
Spanish:
Saltarrocas
de
Zambia
Taxonomy.
Oreotragus oreotragus centralis Hinton, 1921
,
South Chinsali district, eastern
Zambia
.
Formerly considered a synonym of
O. aceratos
. Monotypic.
Distribution
.
Zambia
, including the Luangwa Valley; probably also SE
DR Congo
(Katanga) and
Malawi
.
Descriptive notes.
No specific measurements available. The female is larger than the male, but both sexes are very variable in size. Mean skull length is 14-1 cm (13.2-15.
4 cm
) in males and 14-7 cm (14.1-15.
1 cm
) in females. Mean horn length is 9-8 cm (7-:4-12.
5 cm
). General color is deep reddish to orange to yellow-gray, with some individuals exhibiting a dazzling blackand-yellow effect. The legs are gray, contrasting with the body color. There is no black above the hooves.
Habitat.
The Zambian Klipspringer uses rocky areas,like other klipspringers.
Food and Feeding.
Diet consists of leaves, berries,fruit, seed pods, and flowers, seasonally favoring Euphorbia tirucalli and Vellozia equisetifolia.
Breeding.
Non-seasonal breeder; pregnant females have been recorded in all months except in December—January.
Activity patterns.
There is no specific information available for this species, but Klipspringers frequently leave the rocks to feed on the surrounding lowlands.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
There is no specific information available for this species. Klipspringers are territorial; the territories are occupied by a male and a female (and their young), but it is the male who chases off trespassers.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under
O. oreotragus
).
Oreotragus
taxa, except the Nigerian Klipspringer (O. o. porteousi), are not considered separately by IUCN.
Bibliography.
Groves & Grubb (2011), Roberts (1996), Skinner & Chimimba (2005).