Sitatunga: a two-minute wildlife lesson

More African Antelopes · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. The sitatunga is a swamp antelope with long, banana-shaped hooves, up to 18 cm on the front legs. Pointed toes let it creep through water quietly.
2. When flies bother it or a predator gives chase, a sitatunga can sink right under the water, leaving only its nose and eyes poking out.
3. Its shaggy coat is rubbery and repels water, so slimy, muddy plants barely cling to it.
4. In thick, dark reed beds, seeing far is not much use. Instead, the sitatunga's ears can tell exactly which direction a sound comes from.
5. Walking like a sitatunga takes practice: calves often lose their balance and tumble into the water while they learn.

The quiz

1. What shape are the sitatunga's long hooves compared to?

• A spoon
• A banana (correct)
• A star
• A shovel

Its hooves are banana-like in shape and help it walk quietly through water.

2. What can a sitatunga do to escape flies or a predator?

• Climb a tree
• Dig a burrow
• Hide under the water with only its nose and eyes showing (correct)
• Roll in hot sand

It can submerge itself fully except for its nose and eyes.

3. What is special about the sitatunga's coat?

• It repels water (correct)
• It changes colour with the seasons
• It glows at night
• It has no hair at all

Its shaggy coat is water-repellent, so muddy plants barely stick to it.

4. Why are good ears so useful to a sitatunga?

• It lives in open desert
• It hunts insects by sound
• It sleeps in caves
• Its home is so thick and dark that seeing far does not help (correct)

In dense, dark swamps long sight is of little value, so pinpointing sounds matters.

5. What often happens to young sitatunga calves?

• They are carried on their mother's back
• They lose their balance and fall into the water (correct)
• They live alone from birth
• They sleep in trees

Calves take time to learn the special sitatunga walk and often fall in water.

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