sable

sable habitat

• Light woodland called miombo (mixture of bush and grassland)

• Avoid open, grassy plains because they like the protection of grassland

• Edge species: favor areas b/w wooded savanna and grassland

sable behavior

• Like morning and late afternoon hours for activity

• Among females there is a dominance hierarchy based partly on seniority

• They are grazers but during dry season they may browse occasionally – very water dependent and like to visit mineral licks to gain salt and trace elements that are in short supply in granitic soils

• Main predator: leopard

oryx gestation & breeding

• 9-month gestation period

• Seasonal breeding during the rainy season (Sep/Oct)

• After birth, females leave calf hidden in tall grass/bush returning 1-2x day to suckle

oryx cycles

• Estrous cycle: 24.2 +/- 0.9 days

• Luteal phase: 18 days

• Foreleg lifting is used by courting males to prod reluctant females