Damaliscus korrigum (Ogilby, 1837)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-779 : 658-659

156.

Korrigum

Damaliscus korrigum

French: Korrigum / German: Korrigum / Spanish: Korrigum

Taxonomy. Antilope korrigum Ogilby, 1837 ,

Bornu, northern Nigeria.

During the second half of the 20" century, itwas customary to include this species and all those that follow as subspecies of D. lunatus , despite the conspicuous differences between the tsessebe and the East African species. Differences between members of the East African group are also consistent, although less conspicuous than between them and the tsessebe. Monotypic.

Distribution. From Burkina Faso and Ghana to E Chad and N Central African Republic; there also may be populations in W Sudan.

Descriptive notes. Few measurements available. Shoulder height 127-132 cm; weight 122-136 kg. The Korrigum is bright orange-bay. The legs from the knees and hocks to the hooves are cinnamon; the body is dark ashy-brown, which fades on the shoulders and haunches, taking the form of narrow reddish-gray patches suffused with an ashy sheen. There is a blackish-gray mid-facial blaze. The horns are very long and robust, with tips somewhat converging; the skull is relatively broad. Females have thinner horns than males, but are otherwise quite similar. Determining the sex in this and all the following species from only skulls depends strongly on contrasting the diameter of the horn bases with their span and the face length. With age, the horns in males wear down markedly, the tips becoming short and blunt.

Habitat. Like other large species of Damaliscus , the Korrigum lives in edaphic grassland habitats, usually below elevations of 1500 m. It inhabits medium grassland, up to kneehigh, usually preferring habitats with neighboring woodland where it can find shade during hot weather.

Food and Feeding. Korrigum are almost entirely grass-eaters.

Breeding. Breeding is seasonal; calving occurs at the end of the dry season.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but like most grazers it can be active both day and night. It tends to be more active during daylight hours when it is easier to spot predators.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Korrigum migrate according to season between arid and savanna zones. During rut, males are territorial; females live in separate herds. Where territories are large, a herd tends to remain in a single area within a male’s territory, and is, in effect, the harem ofthe territory-holding male.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List (as D. lunatus korrigum ). The range, which at one time extended from southern Mauritania and Senegal east to the Nile, contracted strongly during the 20" century, and it is now limited to just a few areas in West Africa. Korrigum are most numerous in three areas. About 800 live in an area covering south-eastern Burkina Faso, northern Benin, and southwestern Niger known as the W-Arly-Pendjari complex after the three Protected Areas in these countries. The second area is a region from northern Cameroon, especially Waza National Park, where about 800 Korrigum live, and the Protected Areas complex south of Garoua, extending into Nigeria to the west and Chad to the east, with about 250. The largest group, about 3200 Korrigum , are in a large area crossing the Chad / Central African Republic border. There also may be populations in western Sudan.

Bibliography. Chardonnet (2004), Kidjo & Heymans (1991).

Figures

152. Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus), 153. Blesbok (Damaliscus phillipsi), 154. Western Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), 155. Bangweulu Tsessebe (Damaliscus superstes), 156. Korrigum (Damaliscus korrigum), 157. Tiang (Damaliscus tiang), 158. Uganda Top 1 (Damaliscus ugandae), 159. Ruaha Topt (Damaliscus eurus), 160. Serengeti Topi (Damaliscus jimela), 161. Coastal Topt (Damaliscus topr)

Distribution. From Burkina Faso and Ghana to E Chad and N Central African Republic ; there also may be populations in W Sudan .