Fauna
Mammal

Cape Grysbok

Raphicerus melanotis

Also known as Southern Grysbok

Cape grysbok are solitary, nocturnal dwarf antelopes that navigate dense coastal thickets and fynbos with remarkable stealth. Their coarse reddish coats are speckled with white hairs, creating a grizzled appearance that provides superb camouflage against scrubland shadows. When startled, individuals freeze motionless in dense brush before darting away in an erratic, zigzag flight path close to the ground.

NocturnalEndemicHerbivore
Cape Grysbok reference1 / 7
(c) Karen Eichholz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Karen Eichholz · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFynbos browse, Succulent leaves, Wild fruits
Predators
  • Caracal
  • Leopard
  • Black-backed Jackal
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, urbanization, feral dog predation, and road mortality
HabitatsFynbos, renosterveld, and dense coastal scrub
Life span8–12 years
Classification
  1. OrderArtiodactyla
  2. FamilyBovidae
  3. GenusRaphicerus
  4. SpeciesRaphicerus melanotis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Time: Scan dense scrub margins at dusk and dawn when individuals forage in the open.
  • Noise: Move quietly along trails, as snapping twigs triggers instant flight into thick brush.
  • Distance: Use binoculars to view from paths without trampling sensitive fynbos vegetation.
Related species
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