hartebeest n : a large African antelope with lyre-shaped horns that curve backward

The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. It is one of the three species classified in the genus Alcelaphus.

The Hartebeest stands almost 1.5 m (5 ft) at the shoulder and weighs anywhere from 120-200 kg (265-440 lb). Male Hartebeest are a dark brown colour while females are yellow brown. Both sexes have horns which can reach lengths up to 70 cm (27 in). Hartebeest live in grassland and open forest where they eat grass. They are diurnal and spend the morning and late afternoon eating. Herds contain five to twenty individuals but can occasionally contain up to three hundred and fifty.

Subspecies

Six subspecies have been described, previously seven when it stil included the Red Hartebeest which is now considered a distinct species after phylogeographic studies .

• Bubal Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus buselaphus (Extinct)
• Coke's Hartebeest or Kongoni, Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii
• Lelwel Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel
• Western Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus major
• Swayne's Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei
• Tora Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus tora

Two subspecies cross breeds are recognised by some sectors the commercial hunting fraternity.

• Kenya Highland Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel x cokii
• Neumann Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel x swaynei. (Ethiopia)

Other species

• Red Hartebeest Alcelaphus caama.
• Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Alcelaphus lichtensteinii is classified by some in the Sigmoceros genus as Sigmoceros lichtensteinii.

Two other species less commonly known as 'Hartebeest' are classed in the Damaliscus genus.

• Korrigum (Senegal Hartebeest), Damaliscus lunatus korrigum
• Tiang (Tiang Hartebeest), Damaliscus lunatus tiang

Etymology

The word hartebeest comes from Afrikaans and was originally called hertebeest. The name was given by the Boers who thought it resembled deer (hert in Dutch, the Dutch 'beest' means 'beast' in English).

See also

• Megalotragus

References

External links

• Hartebeest: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• Animal Diversity Web Alcelaphus buselaphus (hartebeest)