The Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
THE COMMON WILDEBEEST (Connochaetes taurinus)
The Common Wildebeest or Gnu (Connochaetes taurinus) is a member of the Family Bovidae; commonly known as Bovids.
Males are larger than females, at a standing shoulder height of 1.3m to 1.5m (Females are 1.1m to 1.3m). Males weigh 170-250 kilograms; while females weigh 180-215 kilograms. The species is known to live for 12 to 19 years in the wild. Lifespan in captivity has been observed to be longer; with a record of 24 years and 3 months.
The Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) subspecies and distribution
There are five subspecies. These are distributed across different regions of Africa:
- Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus): Southern Africa and South-Western Central Africa
- Western White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi): Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem
- Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus): North-East Tanzania and South-East Kenya
- Cookson’s Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus cooksoni): Luangwa Valley of Eastern Zambia
- Johnston’s or Nyasa Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni): Mozambique-Tanzania border to the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem
The Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) habitat
The species prefers to live in open grassland savannah and also savannah woodland. They also strongly prefer areas with access to drinking water.
The Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) diet/ food
The species is a herbivorous species. The main diet source is grass. They prefer grazing on short and green grasses; when it is readily available.
The Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) breeding/ reproduction
Calves are dropped at the onset of rainfall in the Southern populations. This ranges from mid-November to the end of December. In the Serengeti National Park and Ngongoro Conservation Area and Crater; calves are born in February to March.
Drought or early rains can also influence the onset of births. The breeding cycle coincides well with the annual migration for the Western White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi).
Calves are born weighing 14 to 25 kilograms; with most calves averaging 22 kilograms. Cows give birth to one calf per pregnancy (the gestation period lasts about 250 days). Calves are able to run with their mothers within just a few minutes after birth.
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