Project Description

The antelope in the image is a Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis). It is a small antelope species endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Habitat:

Cape Grysbok are typically found in:

• Fynbos vegetation

• Coastal shrublands

• Thickets along the southern coast

• Often in dune scrub and renosterveld areas

From your photo, it looks like the animal is in a coastal fynbos biome, which matches the typical habitat near places like:

• Walker Bay Nature Reserve

• De Hoop Nature Reserve

• Agulhas National Park

• Bredasdorp area

If you’re near the coast in the Western Cape, particularly in fynbos-rich regions, it’s very likely you’ve spotted one in its natural environment.

The Cape Grysbok is officially classified as a small antelope, but in everyday South African English, it’s also commonly called a buck.

Here’s how the terms differ:

• Antelope:
  This is the correct biological term. It refers to a group of even-toed ungulates (hoofed animals) in the family Bovidae, which includes springbok, impala, kudu, and grysbok.

• Buck:
  This is a colloquial term used widely in South Africa to refer to most antelope species, especially in casual conversation. It can also refer specifically to the male of the species, though people often use it to mean any antelope.

So for the Cape Grysbok:

• Scientific classification: Small antelope

• Common local terms: Buck, Grysbokkie, or Cape Grysbok