Blue Wildebeest
5526592
223342416
2008-07-03T17:36:32Z
66.112.100.15
{{Taxobox
| name = Blue Wildebeest
| status = LR/cd
| status_system = iucn2.3
| status_ref = [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/5229/all]
| image = Gnu.jpg
| image_width = 260px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| subphylum = [[Vertebrate|Vertebrata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| ordo = [[Artiodactyla]]
| familia = [[Bovidae]]
| genus = ''[[Connochaetes]]''
| species = '''''C. taurinus'''''
| binomial= ''Connochaetes taurinus''
| binomial_authority = ([[William John Burchell|Burchell]], 1823)
}}
The '''Blue Wildebeest''' (''Connochaetes taurinus'') is a large [[ungulate]] mammal of the [[Bovid]] family and one of two species of [[wildebeest]]. It grows to 1.4 meters [[shoulder]] height and attains a body mass of up to 270 [[kilogram]]s. They range the open [[plain]]s, [[bushveld]] and dry woodlands of [[Southern Africa|Southern]] and [[East Africa]], realizing a life span in excess of twenty years. This [[herbivore]] is a [[grazing]] animal that is often sighted in open grasslands or clearings in a [[savanna]]. The male is highly [[territory (animal)|territorial]] using [[scent marking]]s and other devices to protect his domain. The largest population is in the [[Serengeti]], numbering over one million animals.
== Naming ==
The name “Blue Wildebeest” derives from a conspicuous silvery blue sheen<ref>Estes, R.D. ''The Behaviour Guide to African Mammals''. [[University of California Press]]: Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London (1991)</ref> to his short haired hide, differentiating this species from the plainer black genus member [[Black Wildebeest]]. The name "gnu" originates from the [[Khoikhoi]] name for these animals, "gnou".
==Description==
It has a beefy [[muscular]] front-heavy appearance with a distinctive robust [[snout|muzzle]], it strides with relatively slender legs and moves gracefully and quietly most of the time, belying the reputation for stampeding in herds; however the [[stampede|stampeding]] characteristic may sometimes be observed.
[[Image:Blue wildebeest frm rear.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Blue Wildebeest from rear angle showing stripes that look like wrinkles]]
Probably the most conspicuous feature of the Blue Wildebeest are the large [[horn (anatomy)|horns]] shaped like [[parenthesis|parentheses]], extending outward to the side and then curving up and inward . In the [[male]] the horns can attain a total span of almost 90 centimeters, while the [[female]]'s horn width is about half the size of the male. These cow-like horns of both sexes are somewhat broad at the base and are without ridges. However, as further [[sexual dimorphism]], the male horns have a boss-like structure joining the two horns. The male is larger than the female with a total body length of up to 2.5 meters.
Young Blue Wildebeest are born tawny brown, and begin to take on their adult colouration at age nine weeks. The adult's hue actually varies from a deep slate or bluish gray all the way to light gray or even grayish-brown. The [[Dorsum (biology)|dorsal]] coat and flanks are slightly lighter in hue than the [[ventral]] hide and underparts. Dark brown vertical bands of slightly longer hair mark the neck and forequarters, and from a distance lend a perception of [[skin]] wrinkling. The [[mane]]s of both sexes appear long, stiff, thick and jet black, a colour assumed by the tail and face as well. [[Sexual dichromism]] is exhibited by the males displaying decidedly darker [[colour]]ation than the females. All features and markings of this species are bilaterally [[symmetry|symmetric]] for both sexes.
==Range and habitat==
Blue Wildebeest are found in open and brush-covered savanna in south and east Africa, thriving in areas that are neither too wet nor too arid. They can be found in places that vary from overgrazed areas with dense bush to open woodland floodplains. Wildebeests prefer the bushveld and grasslands of the southern savanna<ref>Kingdon, J., ''East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa, Volume III, Part C (Bovids)'', The [[University of Chicago]] Press; Chicago. (1989)</ref>.
The terrestrial [[biome]] designations for these preferred habitats are savanna, [[grassland]], open forest and [[scrubland|scrub]] forest.
[[Image:The leading gnu.JPG|thumb|250px|A herd of wildebeest in the [[Ngorongoro Crater]]. The leader in the center is watching the others. ]]
Large herds numbering into the thousands may be observed on the [[Tanzania]] [[Serengeti]] [[equator]]ial plain, and in [[Zambia]] in [[Liuwa Plain National Park]], in their annual migration. Smaller [[herd]]s of about thirty are found in northern [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]]<ref>Mike Unwin, ''Southern African Wildlife'', Globe Pequot Press, USA (2003) ISBN 10:1 84162 060 2</ref> and the [[South Africa]]n locations of [[Waterberg]], [[Kruger National Park]] and [[Mala Mala]]. Some herds can be found almost to the southern tip of [[South Africa]].
==Behaviour==
Blue Wildebeests can tolerate arid regions, as long as a potable water supply is available. Since all Wildebeests require a long drink every day or two, they must have water within about 15 or 25 kilometers distance. Their blunt muzzles are best equipped for biting short green grasses, since a wide [[incisor]] row prevents more selective feeding. Short grasses of these type are usually only found on [[alkaline]] or [[volcanic]] soils.
The Serengeti herds are purely migratory and abandon the usual plains after the rainy season has ended, in order to seek higher grasses in wetter areas. Grasslands bordering alkaline [[lake]]s or pans are particularly choice dry season (winter) habitats<ref>Richard D. Estes, ''The Safari Companion'', Chelsea Green Publishing Company, Vermont (1999) ISBN 0-7974-1159-3</ref>. Herds may be mixed gender with a dominant male, female only or bachelor only. Blue Wildebeest often graze together with other species such as [[Plains zebra]]s for purposes of mutual protection. Zebras in particular are beneficial to co-exist with since they mow down highly vegetated areas leaving the wildebeests to eat the newly exposed and more nutritional short grasses, which is what they prefer. A Blue Wildebeest can attain a speed of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
Blue Wildebeests are a favorite prey item prey to [[lion]]s, and [[spotted hyena]]s. They also fall prey to [[cheetah]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[African wild dog|wild dog]]s and [[Nile crocodile]]s. The latter stalks them at river crossings.
===Territoriality===
Blue Wildebeest are unusually territorial, adult males occupying their territories for a month or for the entire year. The physical size of territories ranges from one to two hectares. The bucks mark territory boundaries with dung heaps, preorbital [[gland]] secretions, [[hoof]] [[scent gland]]s and pawing of the earth. When competing over territory, males grunt quite loudly, make a thrusting motion with their horns and perform other displays of aggression.
Territories are advertised by actions of the bull as well as scent marking. [[Body language]] used by the territorial male include standing at an erect posture, profuse ground pawing and horning, frequent defecation, rolling on his back and bellowing the sound "ga-noo". To attract the opposite sex at the beginning of [[courtship]] the male (and less frequently the female) will rub its preorbital gland on a tree and then proceed with a destructive horning of said tree. This behaviour is not only effective in enticing a mate, but serves the function of providing more grassland for future Wildebeest generations by promoting grassland extent.
[[Image:Wildebeest portrait.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Blue wildebeest, [[Ngorongoro Crater]], Tanzania.]]
===Reproduction===
Males exhibit rivalry when staking out territory and when competing for females. In the actual clashes between males, they face off resting on bent front [[knee]]s, exchanging horn thrusts for brief periods. Elaborate individual displays are made in the rivalry and [[courtship]] process, where males bellow, snort and protrude their horns into the soil. The mating process is thought to begin at the first [[full moon]] at the end of the rainy season. Once territory is established, the male attempts to lure or corral the female into his domain. A female may [[copulate]] with several different males, visiting several different territories. Most mating occurs during a three to four week period at the end of the rainy season (March to April), when this species is at its maximum vigour.
The female reaches [[sexual maturity]] at age three, and the male at age four; however, it is more typically age five when the male has developed sufficient strength and experience to defend territory. Generally fewer than half of the adult males create territories in a given year. In the Serengeti, population densities are so high that there may be 270 territorial bulls within one square kilometer. Estes terms the total volume of noise created during the Serengeti rutting season as “indescribable” in its amplitude and variety of snorting, bellowing and fighting. When the dry season is well underway about August, territories cease to exist.
The gestation period is approximately 8.5 months, with calves able to stand within seven minutes and run with the herd in less than two hours from birth. These [[precocial]] features are warranted since the calves are vulnerable to predators. To escape [[predation]] calves remain close to the mother for a significant time, and in fact may suckle for up to one year. In large herds 80 percent of Wildebeest [[offspring]] survive the first month, compared to a 50 percent survival rate within small [[herd]]s.
==Nomenclature and classification==
[[Image:blue wildebeest.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A Blue Wildebeest grazing in Etosha National Park, Namibia]]
The Blue Wildebeest and [[Black Wildebeest]] or White-tailed Gnu (''C. gnou'') are the two species of the genus ''Connochaetes'', within the family [[Bovidae]], which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, and other even-toed horned ungulates. The Blue Wildebeest is sometimes called '''Brindled Gnu'''. The ([[plural]] of Wildebeest is denoted either '''Wildebeest''' or '''Wildebeests'''). Another common term for the Wildebeest is '''gnu''' ({{pronEng|ˈnuː}} or {{IPA|/ˈnjuː/}}).
''C. taurinus'' consists of five distinct subspecies. ''C. t. taurinus'' (Blue Wildebeest or Brindled Gnu; central to southern Africa) individuals are silvery slate gray in colour, the origin of the common name "blue" wildebeest. ''C. t. johnstoni'' (Nyassaland Wildebeest), occurring in southern [[Tanzania]] and [[Mozambique]]), is the largest subspecies. The Western white-bearded wildebeest (''C. t. mearnsi'') is the smallest and is found only in [[Kenya]] and western Tanzania. ''C. t. mearnsi'' is the darkest hued wildebeest while ''C. t. albojubatus'' (Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest) is the palest in colouration and found in Kenya and eastern Tanzania. The last subspecies, Cookson's Wildebeest (''C. t. cooksoni''), is restricted to the [[Luangwa]] Valley.<ref>{{cite web|first=Estes|last=Lyndon|coauthor=Leticia Greyling|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at0725_full.html|title=Zambezian and Mopane woodlands|work=Terrestrial Ecoregions|publisher=World Wildlife Fund|accessdate=2006-06-29}}</ref>
==Conservation and outlook==
[[Image:Waterberg bushveld.jpg|thumb|230px|left|[[Bushveld]] [[habitat]] in [[Waterberg]], [[South Africa]]]]
The Serengeti boasts over one million Blue Wildebeests, but Southern Africa's large herds have diminished over the last several centuries under pressure from hunting, cattle ranching and habitat intrusion stemming from [[overpopulation]] of humans. In southern Africa some efforts are being made to enhance grasslands and repair damage of cattle grazing and excessive fencing. These activities are particularly evident in the [[Waterberg Biosphere]]<ref>C.M. Hogan, Mark L. Cooke and Helen Murray, ''The Waterberg Biosphere'' May 22, 2006, published by Lumina Technologies for Ant Africa Enterprises, Limpopo Province, South Africa [http://www.luminatechnologies.org/lumaw.html]</ref>, where invasive brush (induced by excess cattle grazing) is being extirpated and many fences are coming down to promote [[wildlife]] migration. While the species status is considered secure as a whole, there is concern for smaller herds in the southern Africa habitats which have already become marginalized.<br clear="all">
== References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Connochaetes_taurinus.html UltimateUngulate.com fact list for ''Connochaetes_taurinus'']
*[http://www.safaricamlive.com/Encyclopedia/mammals/Wildebeest/Wildebeest%20Info.htm Blue Wildebeest Photo and Fact Sheet]
*[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Connochaetes_taurinus.html University of Michigan Blue Wildebeest Fact Sheet]
== See also ==
{{Commonscat|Connochaetes taurinus|Blue Wildebeest}}
{{Wikispecies|Connochaetes taurinus}}
{{portalpar|Mammals}}
* [[Invasive plant]]
{{Artiodactyla|R.2}}
[[Category:Alcelaphinae]]
[[Category:Mammals of Africa]]
[[Category:Environment of Kenya]]
[[Category:Fauna of South Africa]]
[[Category:Mammals of Kenya]]
[[Category:Fauna of Tanzania]]
[[Category:Fauna of Zambia]]
[[Category:Megafauna of Africa]]
[[de:Streifengnu]]
[[eo:Blua gnuo]]
[[es:Connochaetes taurinus]]
[[fr:Gnou bleu]]
[[it:Connochaetes taurinus]]
[[lt:Dryžuotoji gnu]]
[[nl:Blauwe gnoe]]
[[ja:オグロヌー]]
[[pl:Gnu pręgowane]]
[[tr:Afrika antilopu]]