science education resource

Wildebeest

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Connochaetes taurinus
Wildebeest

Range

They are found in eastern Africa.

Habitat

They live on the African savannas.

Body Traits

They are large animals weighing more than 500 pounds (260 kg). They are larger in the front shoulders and slope down to the rear end. They have a large head with a dark face and a wide mouth for feeding on grass and horns. They have a mane and a short, grayish-brown, shiny coat.

Habits

They graze in the early-morning and late-afternoon near water and drink midday (when most predators are sleeping). They can run up to 50 mph (80 km/h).

Diet

They eat grass.

Predators

They are killed by hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, crocodiles and lions.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females are pregnant for 8.5 months (gestation) and have 1 young that can stand within minutes. This is important on the African savannah where predators look for vulnerable prey.

Lifespan and/or Conservation Status

They can live 20 years in the wild. They are listed as Lower Risk - conservation dependent.

Wildebeest

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
Genus: Connochaetes
Species: Connochaetes taurinus

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Wildebeest" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. December 14, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Wildebeest >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.