Connochaetes taurinus (Burchell, 1823)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-779 : 663-664

163.

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

French: Gnou bleu / German: Streifengnu / Spanish: NU azul

Other common names: Blouwildebees, Brindled Gnu, Gnu

Taxonomy. Antilope taurina Burchell, 1824 .

Restricted by Roberts in 1951 to Makuba Range, Henningvlei Nature Reserve, between Kuruman and Molopo rivers, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Johnston’s Wildebeest ( C. johnstoni ), the Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest ( C. albojubatus ), and the Serengeti Whitebearded Wildebeest ( C. mearnsi ) have usually been considered to be subspecies of C. taurinus , but they are consistently different in external appearance, in measurements, and in mtDNA. This species is considered monotypic here.

Distribution. SW Zambia, SW Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S Mozambique, N & E South Africa, and Swaziland. The Blue Wildebeest did not generally extend south of the Orange River, although a stray was recorded in the Britstown district in 1843.

Descriptive notes. Few measurements available. Shoulder height 141-156 cm (males) and 129-144 cm (females), ear 19-225 cm (males) and 17.4-21 cm (females); weight 232-295 kg (males) and 164-216 kg (females). The back slopes from shoulderto hindquarters, even more so than in the Black Wildebeest (C. gnou ). The head is elongated and very broad at the nostrils. The chin has a black beard, which becomes short under the jaw, and continues down the throat as a fringe of long black hair. The mane along the midline of the upperside of the neck is black and is erect. The body color is dark blue-gray with a tinge of brown and a silvery sheen. The lower segments of the limbs are tan-colored. On the neck and shoulders, extending to about the middle of the body, there is a series of short black stripes, which gave the species the other common name “Brindled Gnu.” The tail has a long, almost horse-like tuft. In adult males, the face is black from crown to nostrils, often with a reddish tinge on the forehead; the sides of the face are a paler gray than body and are also often slightly reddish-tinged. Females and juveniles are more brownish in color and more reddish on the forehead, and this color may extend to between the eyes. Infants are fawn-colored, with a dark face and a dark dorsal stripe. The horns arise from swollen bosses and go out and somewhat down, then rise up. The tips curve inward and often slightly backward; in females, they are slenderer than in males. The downward curve of the horns in the male is quite variable, but can be considerable, so thatif the cranium is balanced on a flat surface, it may partly rest on the horns. Horn buds appear at three months, initially pointing straight up. They begin to curve outward at eight months. The horn bosses do not develop until about two years.

Habitat. Associated particularly with savanna woodland areas, especially Acacia savanna, with plenty of shade and water. Blue Wildebeest tend to move toward short-grass areas on riverbanks in the dry season.

Food and Feeding. Blue Wildebeest need to drink every day. They are grazers, preferring short, green grasses less than 100-150 mm high, which are especially found growing on burnt areas or after rain. In northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 90% of the diet is grass. In the wet season, Blue Wildebeest eat Panicum spp. and Digitaria argyrograpta in the valleys and Themeda triandra on the hill slopes; they switch in the dry season to couch grass (Cynodon dactylon).

Breeding. In Kruger National Park, South Africa, rut is between April and early June; in KwaZulu-Natal, it is bimodal, peaking in April and with a lesser peak in August. Estrous females move between territories and mate several times with different territorial males. Gestation is 250 days; a female separates herself from the herd, but the calves are extremely precocial—they stand within five minutes, and can keep up with the herd. They are very playful. They start to eat grass within 14 days, but continue to suckle for about eight months. Young males join bachelor herds at about two years. Females produce theirfirst calf at just over two years of age.

Activity patterns. Over 50% of the total time is spent resting, either lying down or standing, and 33% grazing. On moonlit nights they feed as during the day, but rest more and move around less. Shortly after dawn, they move to their day pastures, and during the heat of the day, they move to and from water. They feed more when the weatheris cool, but some continue feeding even in very hot temperatures. Bulls move more, and graze less, than females and young. In mixed herds, they graze less and move more than in all-male herds. They frequently roll in mud to keep cool.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Groupings consist of territorial males, female herds, and bachelor groups. Males’ territories are up to 30 m in diameter. In many places territories are held year-round, even though in the migratory populations the female herds may have gone elsewhere. Blue Wildebeest may migrate in many areas, such as Kruger National Park, but really spectacular mass migrations occur in Botswana, to and from the Makgadikgadi Pan. These are not regular annual migrations, but are undertaken when habitat quality decreases. Adult males are permanently territorial in Kruger National Park, but in dry areas such as Kgalagadi they join bachelor herds during the dry season. During rut, there are constant interactions between bachelor herds and territorial males. Territorial males mark the territory by kneeling and rubbing their preorbital glands on the ground or on bushes or tree trunks, and the bulls fight by dropping onto their knees and clashing their heads together, in much the same fashion as hartebeest and topi. The shock is taken on the horn bosses rather than on the forehead and horn bases. Threats are made by holding the head horizontally and advancing with a sort of a rocking-horse canter. The territorial male herds females with a lowered head, swishing his tail and circling around them; he may even display by rising on his hindlegs for some moments. The sizes of the herds average 34 in Etosha National Park, Namibia, but less, 13-15, in other places where they have been studied, including Pilanesberg Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, and Kruger National Park; they occupy home ranges up to about 2-5 km?*. The preorbital glands are active in females as well as in males, and the tar-like smell of the secretion is noticable around large herds.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. There are some 4000-5000 in Etosha National Park, perhaps 14,000 in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, somewhat over 3000 in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa, and large numbers elsewhere. The most recent estimate for the whole population size is about 130,000. In the Kalahari, large numbers die during droughts, and their range is now constrained by border fences and veterinary fences.

Bibliography Estes (1969, 1991a, 1991b), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008r), Skinner & Chimimba (2005).

Figures

162. Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou), 163. Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), 164. Johnston’s Wildebeest (Connochaetes johnstoni), 165. Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes albojubatus), 166. Serengeti White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes mearnsi)

Distribution. SW Zambia , SW Angola , Namibia , Botswana , Zimbabwe , S Mozambique , N & E South Africa , and Swaziland . The Blue Wildebeest did not generally extend south of the Orange River, although a stray was recorded in the Britstown district in 1843.