Origin: Africa Horn Size: Up to 31 inches Weight: 243-400 pounds Estimated World Population: 18,000 The Black Wildebeest may not be the prettiest, but it is one of … Large herds often get divided into smaller groups. *All-Inclusive Beverages Its introduction into Namibia has been a success and numbers have increased substantially there from 150 in 1982 to 7,000 in 1992. [2], Black wildebeest are predominantly grazers, preferring short grasses, but also feeding on other herbs and shrubs, especially when grass is scarce. Wildebeest inhabit the plains and open woodlands of parts of Africa south of the Sahara. Around 80% of the wildebeest occurs in private areas, while the other 20% is confined in protected areas. [2][14] The head-and-body length is typically between 170 and 220 cm (67 and 87 in). I use WIKI 2 every day and almost forgot how the original Wikipedia looks like. The length of the tail ranges from 80 to 100 cm (31 to 39 in). While small calves stay with their mothers, the older ones form groups of their own within the herd. The first instar larvae of G. hässleri were found in large numbers on the dura mater of wildebeest calves, specially between June and August, and these later migrated to the nasal passages. In spite of regional variations, around 80% of the females give birth to their calves within a period of 2-3 weeks after the onset of the rainy season - from mid-November to the end of December. Over the years, the South African authorities have issued stamps displaying the animal and the South African Mint has struck a 5-rand coin with a prancing black wildebeest. One of these is a metallic snort or an echoing "hick", that can be heard up to 1.5 km (1 mi) away. [36] The silky, flowing tail is used to make fly-whisks or chowries. [1], In a study of the feeding activities of a number of female black wildebeest living in a shadeless habitat, they fed mostly at night. Black wildebeest are sexually dimorphic, with females being smaller in size and more slender than males. [31] In most reserves, the black wildebeest shares its habitat with the blesbok and the springbok. Males reach about 111 to 121 cm (44 to 48 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 106 to 116 cm (42 to 46 in). The neutrophil count is high at all ages. [2] The scent glands secrete a glutinous substance in front of the eyes, under the hair tufts, and on the forefeet. They have dark brown or black coats with unusual shaped horns that curve forward. Scientific Name: Connochaetes Gnou. Like the blue wildebeest, the black wildebeest seems to act as a reservoir for the virus and all animals are carriers, being persistently infected, but showing no symptoms. [26] Each bull has a patch of ground in the centre of his territory in which he regularly drops dung, and in which he performs acts of display. [31] The herds graze either in line or in loose groups, usually walking in single file when moving about. XLVI. During cool weather, they lay down to rest, but in hotter conditions they rested while standing up. A peak in the content of all these haemological parameters occurs at the age of 2-3 months, after which the readings gradually decline, reaching their lowest values in the oldest individuals. [17], Male black wildebeest reach sexual maturity at the age of three years, but may mature at a younger age in captivity. The black wildebeest can be distinguished from the blue wildebeest (C. taurinus) by its white rather than black tail. The number of females per herd is variable, generally ranging from 14 to 32,[14] but is highest in the densest populations[2] and also increases with forage density. [15] Males typically weigh 140 to 157 kg (309 to 346 lb) and females 110 to 122 kg (243 to 269 lb). [6], The black wildebeest is currently included in the same genus as the blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). The haematocrit and haemoglobin content decreases till 20-30 days after birth. Characteristics: Black Wildebeest can be identify with a dark brown or black coat. They also moved from north to south as the sourgrass found north of the Vaal River matured and became unpalatable, the wildebeest only consuming young shoots of sourgrass. [8] The earliest known fossil remains are in sedimentary rock in Cornelia in the Orange Free State and date back about 800,000 years. In the past, black wildebeest occurred in the highveld temperate grasslands during the dry winter season and the arid Karoo region during the rains. [2][14] The head-and-body length is typically between 170 and 220 cm (67 and 87 in). [2] An encounter between two bulls involves elaborate rituals. [1], In a study of the feeding activities of a number of female black wildebeest living in a shadeless habitat, they fed mostly at night. It is a member of the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae.It was first described in 1780 by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann.The black wildebeest is typically between 170–220 cm (67–87 in) in head-and-body length, and the average weight is 110–180 kg (240–400 lb). The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of the two closely related wildebeest species.