Wildebeest

//ZIJING CHU 10B//

EXTINCT ANIMAL {HIPPOTRAGUS LEUCOPHAEUS} / MODERN ANIMAL {WILDEBEEST} / FUTURE ANIMAL {FORESTUHBEEST}

WILDEBEEST { Connochaetes Taurinus } = =

media type="flickr" key="64130209@N04" ARG0="&lang=en-us&format=rss_200" width="360" height="360" align="right"

**INTRO**
== This animal is formally known as // Connochaetes taurinus // and another name called Nyumbu Ya Montu by the Swahilis. Wildebeest looks like no other Antelopes; it is like a mash up of different animals. The hindquarters of the body from an antelope, mane and tail shaped like a horse and the forequarters looking like an ox. The following report outlines the habitat of the // Connochaetes taurinus //, and also identifying two different structural, behavioural and a physiological adaptation that this animal has evolved in order to survive. ==

scientific classification

 * == Kingdom: == || == [|Animalia] == ||
 * == Phylum: == || == [|Chordata] == ||
 * == Subphylum: == || == [|Vertebrata] == ||
 * == Class: == || == [|Mammalia] == ||
 * == Order: == || == [|Artiodactyla] == ||
 * == Family: == || == [|Bovidae] == ||
 * == Subfamily: == || == [|Alcelaphinae] == ||
 * == Genus: == || ==**// Connochaetes //**==

[|Lichtenstein], 1812
||


 * ==Labeled Wildebeest (Figure no.1)== ||
 * == [] ==

||

== As scientist has provided evidence and with additional commonsense it is known that all animals depends on the habitat that they live in, and really relies on it to survive. Africa is the home to most of the wildebeests in the world, and located in Africa are the two main wildebeest. The white-tailed gnu also known as the black wildebeest, they reside primarily in South Africa. And the second type blue wildebeest also known as the brindled or white-bearded gnu, dwells from some parts of southern Africa through out to southern Kenya. The main differences between the two wildebeest are how curve the horns are and the color of fur. The blue wildebeest is commonly known as the larger of the two species, the blue wildebeest has a greater height and weight.Most of the wildebeest are located in the northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.National parks such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve are the places where Wildebeests are most likely to be found. ==


 * ==Location of Wildebeest in areas of Africa (Figure no.2)== || ==Location of Wildebeest in areas of Africa (Figure no.3)== ||
 * == Blue Wildebeest Range Map (East & Southern Africa) ==

[]
====

|| == Wildebeest Range ==

[]
====

||

== The gnu is pronounced "g-new" or simply "new", its heavy build and disproportionately large forequarters make it look more unintelligent. Gnus can reach up to 8 feet in length, stands 4.5 feet tall at the shoulders and weigh up to 272 kilograms. Both males and females grow horns.Wildebeest are herbivores and so their natural habitat is on open plains and they feed exclusively on grasses. Compared to other antelopes Wildebeest are unique; this special kind of antelope depends upon water for drinking, they are not picky when it comes to eating. 97% of wildebeest’s diet consists of grass and nutrient sources limited by the environment it lives in. In the region of 87% of female // Connochaetes taurinus // reproduce yearly proving that the nutrients intake for the // Connochaetes taurinus // is relatively more than the average antelo pe specie. Wiledebeest tend to prefer short, easy to digest and full nutrients grasses and they select ranges that are no more than 12 miles from a water source. The wildebeest migrate annually in search for water; this typical behavior has occurred due to its predominantly short periods, unreliable wet season and grass that are high in crude content. == == This annual migration is named the northward migration. The purpose of this migration is to search of greener pastures usually takes place in May or June. It’s considered one of the greatest wildlife show on Earth, this movement involves up to 1.5 million wildebeests together with hundreds and thousands of other animals such as the zebra and gazelle. In this period of migration up to 500,000 calves are born each year, at the beginning of the rainy season. Calves are able to walk within minutes of birth, and after days they are able to keep up with the heard. Gnu’s life span in average calculates to 20 years old. ==

WILDEBEEST MIGRATION VIDEO
media type="youtube" key="HYM6LqDJLiM" height="349" width="560" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYM6LqDJLiM

== One of the most amazing adaptations that the wildebeest // Connochaetes taurinus // has adapted through its evolution is the by developing what are probably the most precocious calves of any ungulate. Newborn babies can start to gin their feet in less that three minutes, furthermore instead of seeking privacy when giving birth like other antelope does the // Connochaetes taurinus // in migratory populations have groups of pregnant females gather together and drop claves in dozens between dawn and midday on calving grounds. == == This adaptation has developed over the years and evolving to the most efficient way of giving birth. Some of the factors that leads to this adaptation could be that the environment that hey live in, when living in open grasslands and areas with no hiding place the mother staying behind to give birth on a wild plain increases the danger of both mother and the child, more over the color of the //Connochaetes taurinus// is not effective when a mobile population aggregates on short green pastures, the calves color is simply identifiable to the predators, and so the great evolution of when a newborn is able to walk in a short period of time is very efficient to both the mother and the child. ==

== Another great structural adaptation that the //Connochaetes taurinus// has adapted through the years of evolution is it’s feeding apparatus. A broad row of incisors, a wide muzzle and very flexible lips, these are all physical features of how the //Connochaetes taurinus// is well adapted for taking vast number of bites of short grass. ==

== This adaptation has developed due to its eating habit and the amount of food it intakes. As mentioned above the //Connochaetes taurinus// is an herbivore, and due to its environment of African Savanna there are just minimum amount of long grasses and so to eat short grasses on the wide plains the //Connochaetes taurinus// has developed these physical features to adapt to this environment. The wide muzzle has evolved to let the mouth of the //Connochaetes taurinus// to reach down to the ground enough to have a grip of the grass, and then a wide muzzle has evolved to create a bigger area of the mouth to grab hold of more grasses and is able to intake more amount of grass into the mouth at the same time. And lastly the broad row of incisors is made to let the //Connochaetes taurinus// eat at a faster rate. ==

== One of the special features that the //Connochaetes taurinus// carries is a strong excretion from the glands. This is found in the front hooves helping the //Connochaetes taurinus// to follow each other by their scent; this scent is never lost meaning it is even on in the darkest nights. == == This structural has involved to its advantage for this special type of antelope because as seen in (Figure no.1) the wildebeest’s head is not as small as the other antelope and is not as flexible compared to the others, so when it comes to looking around and following the herd would not be a problem. The cause of this evolution might be also because of predators that are able to see at night such as hyenaand __cheetah__. ==

== One of the behavioral adaptations that the Wildebeest //Connochaetes taurinus// evolved to protect their calves occurs in breeding season and this adaptation is the short calving season. About four fifths of the annual birth rate occurs in a short few weeks time. This adaptation is similar to the adaptation of the caribou in the Artic, but the difference between the two is the time that it occurs. == == A most obvious advantage of this evolutional behavioral adaptation is the short period of calving season over numbers the predators enabling the calves to survive and also keeps the predator’s population down while increasing themselves. This short period of time dedicated to giving birth also gives the mothers more time to eat and be prepared for the next birth. ==

== Migration is another key factor of behavioral evolution of the //Connochaetes taurinus//. They rang for the short-grasses plains for half a year, and for the remaining of the year the herd spends the drier months mowing the tall grass in the woodland zone. == == This adaptation has greatly helped the survival of the //Connochaetes taurinus//. Due to their eating habits its hard for them to stay in a single area for a long period of time, and so migration is a essential habit that the //Connochaetes taurinus// would need to adapt, and because of this habit the //Connochaetes taurinus// has an advantage of not being predated, this is because their predators cannot follow the tracks of the //Connochaetes taurinus// make because the predators has different breeding habits and to adapt the same pulse of how the //Connochaetes taurinus// lives take a long period of time. == == In addition the following four characteristics have allowed wildebeests to thrive in its environment and live. Firstly a rumen (the first stomach of a reimagining animal) provides an environment for symbiotic microflora to convert cellulose to protein and carbohydrates. Secondly in the mouth morphology suited for rapid ingestion of grass acts as an anti-predator tactic, to prevent pesticides in the grass to get through into the body, thirdly inward-curving horns creates an aid in balance, these are used in predator attacks, and lastly it’s large body is a great tool to support long distance migrations (finding water sources). ==

= Bibliography {Alphabetical Order} =

> > > > > > >
 * 1) BNET. (2010, N/A, N/A). //Wildebeests of the Serengeti: migrating in great numbers, the signature antelope of the African savanna must dodge predators, drought, and human development. On the side, it shapes its own habitat//. Retrieved June 19th, 201, from CBS Buissness Network: []
 * 1) Chan, H. (2008, June 10th). //Horseshoe Crab//. (H. Chan, Producer, & N/A) Retrieved June 17th, 2011, from Wikispaces: http://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Horseshoe+Crab
 * 1) Janseen, P. (2010, N/A, N/A). //Wildebeest//. (P. Janseen, Editor, N/A, Producer, & African Wildlife Foundation ) Retrieved June 17th, 2011, from Out of Africa: []
 * 1) MARCOPENG. (2009, July 7th). //Rich source of fossils found in Free State//. (N/A, Producer, & MARCOPENG) Retrieved June 19th, 2011, from How Old is Life on Earth?: []
 * 1) N/A. (N/A, N/A, N/A). //Habitat and General Information about the Wildebeest//. (D. College, Producer, & N/A) Retrieved June 19th, 2011, from General Wildebeest Information: []
 * 1) National Geographic. (2011, N/A N/A). //Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus//. (N/A, Editor, N/A, Producer, & National Geographic) Retrieved June 14th , 2011, from NatGeoWild: []
 * 1) Softpedia. (2007, December 12th). //Wildebeests and Lions: the Amazing Migration of the African Savanna//. (S. Anitei, Producer, & Softpedia) Retrieved June 17th, 2011, from SOFTPEDIA updated one minute ago: []
 * 1) Wikipedia . (2011, June 10th). //Wikipedia//. (Wikipedia, Editor, Wikipedia, Producer, & Wikipedia) Retrieved June 17th, 2011, from Wildebeest: []