As a prominent sign of sexual dimorphism, only males possess a pair of short, stout horns, that extend backward from the forehead and hook slightly forward. The horns measure about . However, some Senegalese individuals have longer and wide-spreading horns. In comparison to the other reedbucks, the bohor reedbuck has the shortest and most hooked horns. The longest horns are observed in "R. r. cottoni", which are hooked less than normal and may curve inwards. In contrast to "R. r. cottoni", "R. r. bohor" has short and stout horns, with hooks pointing forward. The length of the horns of an individual of a certain region seems to be related to the population density in that region to some extent. While short horns are observed in individuals of eastern Africa, where populations are dispersed, longer and wide-spreading horns are found on animals in the Nile valley, where populations are concentrated. The bohor reedbuck is host to several parasites. The most notable helminths found in the bohor reedbuck are "Carmyerius papillatus" (in the rumen), "Stilesia globipunctata" (in the small intestine), "Trichuris globulosa" (in the caecum), "Setaria" species (in the abdominal cavity), "Dictyocaulus" species (in the lungs) and "Taenia" cysts (in the muscles). Other parasites include "Schistosoma bovis", "Cooperia rotundispiculum", "Haemonchus contortus", species of "Oesophagostomum", "Amphistoma" and "Stilesia". The common ticks found on the bohor reedbuck are "Amblyomma" species and "Rhipicephalus evertsi". Bohor reedbuck are active throughout the day, seeking cover during the daytime and grazing in the night. A large proportion of the whole day is spent on feeding and vigilance. They can easily camouflage in grasses and reeds, and hide themselves rather than running from danger. When threatened, they usually remain motionless or retreat slowly into cover for defense, but if the threat is close, they flee, whistling shrilly to alert the others. It hides from predators rather than forming herds in defense. Many predators, including lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, African wild dogs and Nile crocodiles, prey on the reedbuck.