Alcelaphus lichtensteinii (Peters, 1852)

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 : 653

149.

Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest

Alcelaphus lichtensteinii

French: Bubale de Lichtenstein / German: Lichtenstein-Kuhantilope / Spanish: Alcelafo de Lichtenstein

Other common names: Nkonzi

Taxonomy. Antilope lichtensteinii Peters, 1852 ,

Tette, Mozambique.

In the late 20" century, it was customary for all or most hartebeest to be included as subspecies of A. buselaphus , but A. lichtensteinu was usually (not always) left as a distinct species—sometimes it was even placed in a distinct genus, Sigmoceros . A phylogeny of hartebeest based on the control region of mtDNA found that the Red Hartebeest ( A. caama ) and A. lichtensteinii together form a clade thatis the sister group to all other hartebeest. Monotypic.

Distribution. W & S Tanzania, Burundi, SE DR Congo (E Katanga), E Angola, Zambia, N Mozambique, E Zimbabwe, and as far S as NE South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 160-203 cm, tail 40-51 cm, shoulder height 122-136 cm (males) and 119-130 cm (females), ear 19-23 cm, hindfoot 54-57 cm (males) and 51-55 cm (females); weight 157-204 kg (males) and 160-181 kg (females). As in other hartebeest, the back slopes from shoulder to rump. The horns rise from a low, bony pedicle that is much less developed than in any other species; the horns are a crumpled S shape, the tips pointing outward; only the base of the horns has ridges. In males, the horn circumference relative to skull length is much greater than in any other species, and in horn circumference, horn length, size of the frontal sinuses, and pedicle height, it is the most sexually dimorphic ofall species of hartebeest. The frontal sinuses are more complex in the male than in other hartebeest, as far as is known. This species, like the Western Hartebeest (A.), the Lelwel Hartebeest (A. lelwel), and the Red Hartebeest, can be regarded as part of the “heavily armed” group; because the members of the group are not otherwise closely related, this heavy armament may be the primitive condition for hartebeest. Greatest skull length is 45.8-50. 2 cm in males; horn span is 67-88% of basal length in males; and least frontal width is 79-86% of biorbital width (in both sexes). The pelage coloris yellow-tawny, more rufous on the upper part of the body. The rump and base of the tail are contrastingly white, and the upper hindlegs are white. The chin, front of the shanks, and tail tuft are black; some individuals have a dark patch on the forehead and on top of the muzzle. The preorbital secretion is black and sticky, like that of the Kongoni (A. cokii); because of the shoulder-wiping ritual, the shoulders are typically streaked with black.

Habitat. Miombo woodlands, within which its distribution is closely associated with floodplain grasslands. In a study in Gorongosa, Mozambique, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest were in the Miombo during the dry season, and moved onto the Rift Valley floor during the wet season.

Food and Feeding. They are almost exclusively grazers, with a small amount of browsing from low shrubs, especially Combretum. They benefit from the new grass that springs up in burnt areas, as well as from the minerals of the ash. The diet seems to expand into a wider range during the dry season.

Breeding. Breeding is seasonal; in Zimbabwe, the breeding season is from November to January. Fighting is frequent during the rut, and at this time a territorial male becomes very aggressive and will expel young males from the herd. Estrus lasts a single day; a male mounts four times in four minutes. Young male calves sometimes try to interfere with mating. The territorial male approaches the females with nose forward, tail stiffly horizontal. Estrous females stand with legs apart, their hindquarters toward the male; the male rubs his preorbital glands on the female’s hindquarters. The shortness of the breeding season has been linked to the extreme development of the horn circumference and the reduced height of the pedicle. Fighting tends to be less in species with short breeding seasons. Gestation is 240 days; females have theirfirst calves at about two years. The calves are not hidden, but tend to lie in groups of 1-3 on open ground while the mothers are grazing or drinking.

Activity patterns. Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest feed in the early morning, moving into shade about 09:00 h, and feed again after 17:00 h. A territorial male marks histerritory by horning the ground, dropping to his knees and turning his head from side to side, digging up the soil with his horns, then rubbing his preorbital glands on the ground and on his flanks.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. As in many hartebeest, there seems to be a permanent association between a territorial male and a harem of females, rather than female herds occupying separate home ranges. During a disturbance, the herdsflee first, and the male flees last, often stopping to look back. In Mozambique, the herds consisted of 6-12 individuals, although aggregations of as many as 72 were recorded during October. In other places ( Zambia, Zimbabwe) mean herd sizes of 3-5 were found. In the female herds there is thought to be a dominance ranking according to age. Territories of males in Kafue National Park, Zambia, average 290 ha (160-520 ha). The territorial bull maintains a distance between himself and the females and young, frequently climbing a termite mound as a static display. The territory is marked with churned up soil (by the male’s horns), with preorbital secretion, and by dung piles. Bachelor herds, which are unstable, have shifting home ranges in peripheral regions.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as A. buselaphus lichtensteinii ). Lichtenstein’s Hartebeestis still common in Tanzania, with about 20,000 in the Selous Game Reserve and neighboring areas; Kafue National Park and Luangwa Valley, in Zambia,still have large numbers. It has survived in Mozambique and Malawi, but in reduced numbers. A small number have been reintroduced to Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Bibliography. Capellini & Gosling (2006), Estes (1991a, 1991b), Farke (2007), Kingdon (1982), Roosevelt & Heller (1914), Skinner & Chimimba (2005).

Figures

On following pages: 147. Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus swaynel); 148. Kongoni (Alcelaphus coki); 149. Lichtenstein's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii); 150. Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus caama); 151. Herola (Beatragus hunter).

Distribution. W & S Tanzania , Burundi , SE DR Congo (E Katanga), E Angola , Zambia , N Mozambique , E Zimbabwe , and as far S as NE South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).