Description:

The bush renoster-bokke (Renosterobokkes africana) is a megafaunal bovid species that inhabits the Congo Savannah. After the Holocene extinction event, most megafauna went extinct due to human influence and climate change. Some antelopes, however, survived the extinction event and rapidly took these open megafaunal niches. Most likely, these mammals descended from the sable antelope (Hippotragus niger). These organisms are one of the largest animals on the savannah, being about 2.7 to 2.8 meters at the shoulder and 4.5 to 4.7 meters long. They also weigh about 5.5 to 7.2 metric tons. They are generally gray but can be brown, orange, or cream when covered in dirt. They have two horns on their relatively small head. Although these horns look disproportional, these horns are lightweight. The horns are composed of tough but spongy material. Around this spongy bone, there is a layer of thick keratin. They also have thick, densely packed neck muscles that help to support the head. The other mammals are also compactly built, leading to their odd appearance. Like all bovids, these mammals have two toes on each foot, but a fatty pad supports their foot, which helps to cushion their weight. They also have a large neck flap that helps in thermoregulation. They are mostly hairless for that purpose as well. They also have long lifespans of up to 60 to 80 years.

Distribution:

These bovids inhabit in open grasslands, scrublands, and savanna, with their range extending to the southern tip of Africa.

Diet:

These mammals are grazing mammals, with their diet consisting of grasses, shrubs, and other low-lying grasses.

Social Behavior:

These animals are social grazers, living in herds of no more than 14 members. These groups contain female renoster-bokkes (also known as cows). Male or bull renoster-bokkes tend to live alone or in smaller groups. The bulls mark their territory using urine and feces. Both of them have chemicals that produce a pungent smell. These chemicals help to tell males where other males are in an area. They also attract females since the more chemicals within the urine and feces, the better the male is perceived. Less dominant males will not mark their territory and seem to lack the territory-marking chemicals.

Both females and males also use vocalizations and calls to communicate. They produce grunts and snorts during courtships, squeals when excited or nervous, and deep growls when threatened. Males also stomp the ground, snarl, and fake charge during infraspecific competition. Some males will not want to fight since it costs more energy to fight rather than posture.

Reproduction:

Given these mammals are massive, their reproduction takes an extremely long time. Females sexually mature in 6 to 7 years, while bulls sexually mature at around 10 years. Females will usually only mate with males that have high levels of territory chemicals in their urine and feces. The female will call out to the male with a deep bellow, and the mating ritual occurs. The male will chase the female for about twenty to thirty minutes to see how physically fit the male is. If the male tries or can't catch up with the female, the female will leave and not reproduce. If the male completes this challenge, reproduction will occur. After reproduction, the female is solely responsible for caring for the young.

Gestation takes about 17 to 18 months due to the large size of the young. The calf is about 40 to 60 kilograms at birth and fully capable of walking. The babies lack the characteristic horns of adult individuals, which help to prevent injury during birth. The mother will care for the calf until they reach about 5 years old. The juvenile male and female calves may stay with the mother for a year or two but will rely on the mother for food or protection. Male calves are more likely to leave their mother compared to the females.