Talk:Waterbuck/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Cwmhiraeth (talk · contribs) 06:09, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

• I propose to take on this review. It will probably be a couple of days before I have time to go through the article in detail. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 06:09, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

First reading

It is a long article so I will work through it in stages and come back to the lead later.

• "The animal acquired the vernacular name "waterbuck" since it is largely dependent on water and can enter into it for defence." - Humans are dependent on water too!

Well, I think it is so specially named since it is more dependent on water than any other antelope. I have added it. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• "This species was transferred to the genus Kobus" - Why was this?

Sorry, I don't have much information about that. No sources state a perfect reason for this. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• What is the difference between hybridisation and Interbreeding? If it is a single species it can't hybridise can it?

It must be inter-varietal hybridisation (a term I read somewhere). But all sources either call it interbreeding or hybridisation. Perhaps its use is no more restricted to inter-specific hybridisation but has extended to varieties (there are two varieties of waterbuck). Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• A range map would be good.

I couldn't find any. One is available, but is completely misleading (it even includes the Arabian peninsula in the range!) And I don't know how to make one. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• You mention evolution rather briefly and state that there are few fossils at the Cradle of Humankind, but what about over the rest of its wide range?

Not much data about the evolution. Sources do not say much about fossils - I just found this bit about evolution. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• To what other antelopes is it related? How about a cladogram?

In the article I have mainly related it with the other five members of Kobus. I am not an expert in this matter, and not used to cladograms.

• What is a kob antelope?

Which part are you referring to? In the whole article, kob wherever used refers to the species Kobus kob.Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

"The waterbuck is the largest of the kob antelopes." - I think you should mention the other species in the genus. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 18:21, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• The first paragraph of Description needs some of the information in a different order.

Please clarify a bit more. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

You start with adult size, go on to calf size and growth rate, continue with adult weight and then move on to length of tail. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 18:21, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

I have tried to maintain a sequence here. You see, first I cover the head-and-body length and height (giving averages and then specific values for males and females). Then I move on to the weight, and begin with the values for infants, later on continuing with the males and females. I do not see how to reorganise it more suitably, for that is how I have proceeded in earlier articles. The only thing that I can suggest is to shift the portion about the tail to, perhaps, the next paragraph.Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• The two sentences starting "It is a sexually dimorphic antelope ..." and "Males are nearly 7 percent taller ..." could be combined into one.

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• "... while, in rare occurrences, a loose turn of a horn may be visible." - I don't understand this.

Something of this sort was there in the source, but I am not entirely clear about "loose". Should we omit this part? I wouldn't dare to assume any meanings by myself! Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:40, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

I should leave it out. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 18:21, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• I like to put the distribution and habitat section earlier than the behaviour section so as to give the latter context. However there is inconsistency in this over other mammal articles.

In all my earlier articles I have followed the present order. Perhaps it should remain as it is. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• I would put the diseases and parasites section later, probably as a subsection of Ecology.

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

• More later. Are you planning to take this to FAC? Cwmhiraeth (talk) 05:44, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Thanks for taking up the review. I don't wish to send it to FAC, for it is a long-drawn process and requires perfect precision in everything, for which I don't have time at the moment. (My holidays will have ended by next weekend, I hope we would have completed the Waterbuck and Malacostraca reviews by then.) Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:38, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Continuing

• "Territorial males hold home ranges 4–146 hectares (0.015–0.564 sq mi; 9.9–360.8 acres) large." - Is this a home range or a territory?

Wherever I have read, a home range and territories are synonymous and are terms used interchangeably. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

I have found them used differently, "home range" used for areas in which they forage and which may overlap other individual's home ranges, and "territory" for areas they defend against other individuals. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 05:10, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "... which are partly dominant bulls who exploit resources, ..." - I don't think this is very clear. Do you mean they are mature adults with as yet no territory?

That is what the source seems to imply. I have added a bit about it. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• Link lions, leopards, cheetahs etc

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "... and males could fight predators by themselves." - I'm not sure what this means.

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "Predominantly a grazer, the waterbuck frequents grasslands. Grasses constitute a substantial 70 to 95 percent of the diet." - You could combine these sentences.

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "... whereas no time was spent on it during the wet season." - This sounds as if they don't feed in the wet season.

There is a difference between browsing and grazing. While browsing includes the intake of leaves and fruits, grazing is exclusively feeding on grass. I have clarified to remove confusion.Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "Pregnant females isolate themselves and go into thickets." - I think you mean when they are about to give birth.

Yes, clarified. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "Calves are weaned at eight months, following which they join groups of calves of their age." - Or do the females stay with their mothers as mentioned earlier.

I have transferred the bit about female calves to Reproduction. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "The waterbuck is native to Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, ..." - This list is alphabetical and no doubt correct but I think it is much more helpful to say "The waterbuck is native to Africa, south of a line stretching from A to B or somesuch.

I have tried to improve this part. Have a look. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:37, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "While the common waterbuck are extinct in Ethiopia ..." - Should be "is".

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "Waterbuck inhabit scrub and savanna areas along rivers, lakes and valleys,[12] while avoiding bushy and low-lying areas." - Does not the second half of this sentence contradict the first half?

Yes, it does seem so. I have eliminated the latter part to avoid confusion. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "... the waterbuck have a sparse ecotone distribution" - You linked "ecotone" in the lead but I think you might explain it here, and is this sentence singular or plural?

Done. Waterbuck here is in plural. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "In Queen Elizabeth National Park, females held territories ..." - I though males had territories and females had (non-exclusive) home ranges.

See the point above. But I think that for convenience I should say males have territories and females have home ranges. What do you have to say about this suggestion? Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

Sounds good. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 05:10, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

Done. I hope this also resolves a similar issue raised earlier. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:49, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• Looking back now at the lead to see whether it satisfactorily summarises the article, I see that it largely does.
• You should link "sedentary" and do you really mean "perennial"? I think "throughout the year" would be better.

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• "The various groups are the nursery herds, bachelor herds and territorial males." - It is not clear from this whether the territorial males form herds or not. If they are solitary, they don't form groups.

By groups here I mean the sections of the population. Perhaps I should say "solitary" territorial males? Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

I think so. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 05:10, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

Done. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:49, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• • That's all for now. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 18:21, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, you've been so quick! I'll surely remember your valuable suggestions. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 03:18, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

Responded to all your comments. Sainsf <^>_{Talk all words} 08:49, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

• I am satisfied with your responses and the changes you have made, and I have done a little copyediting to make the prose flow more smoothly. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 18:38, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

Enkopresis (talk) 13:11, 27 November 2015 (UTC) The main picture was changed to Cullen Jones, the american swimmer. It needs to be changed back to a picture to the original one.

GA criteria

• The article is well written and complies with MOS guidelines on prose and grammar, structure and layout.
• The article uses many reliable third-party sources, and makes frequent citations to them. I do not believe it contains original research.
• The article covers the main aspects of the subject and remains focussed.
• The article is neutral.
• The article is stable.
• The images are relevant and have suitable captions, and are either in the public domain or properly licensed.

• Final assessment - I believe this article reaches the GA criteria. Cwmhiraeth (talk) 18:38, 4 October 2014 (UTC)