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Blue wildebeest (Brindled gnu)
Connochaetes taurinus
Key identification features
Unmistakable heavily built cattle sized antelope with a massive neck, shoulders and head. Hindquarters have a disproportionally slender build and its back is slightly sloping. The tail is slender with a big dark tassel. It has a black mane and a black flat muzzle. Horns in both sexes are curved sideways and then upwards. Colour is greyish blue to dark grey brown with variable degrees of stripes and a white, cream, brown or black bearded neck and chin. HB 170-240 cm. Wt 140-290 kg. There are three subspecies of blue wildebeest in Tanzania:
The Nyassa Wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni, is a light browner colour and has a white stripe across its nose. The eastern white bearded wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus, is a light grey colour. The western white bearded wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi, is a dark grey colour.
Habitat and social behaviour
The blue wildebeest lives in savannah and open bush land. It is normally diurnal but rests during the midday heat. It is a social and territorial animal that usually lives in a harem with one male and 6-30 females with their young or in male bachelor parties. During the dry season it can move in temporarily formed herds of up to 400000 animals.
Similar species
Unmistakable.
Distribution Map
Historical Distribution Map
References for historical distribution map
Photo gallery
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