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Hartebeest - ALCELAPHUS BUSELAPHUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Hartebeest": "Hartebeest" is the Afrikaans (South African Dutch) word meaning "horned animal."
Location: Central Africa.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Savanna and sparse scrub.
Description:The coloring is almost uniform, ranging from light brown to a pale sandy color. There can be dark markings on the legs. The shoulder is considerably higher than the rump, the head is long and narrow, and the legs are slender. The horns, present in both sexes, vary in shape, but always sprout from the top of the head.There are several different subspecies of hartebeest, differing in the size and shape of the horns, coloration, and also in the proportions of the body. Length of head and body is over eight feet, shoulder height is about six feet, and they may weigh over 450 pounds.
Behavior:This is a diurnal, gregarious antelope which often congregates in large herds that include other antelopes and zebras. The young males may form separate groups. The males are territorial during the mating season, and mate with females who wander into their territory. This hartebeest feeds on grass, including the driest types, and does not need water daily. It is a favorite prey of lions.
Reproduction: Normally one young is born after a gestation period of seven to eight months.
Go to the Artiodactyla Page to learn more about all the even-toed hoofed animals.
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