THE ANIMAL FILES

Blue wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

A zebra can crop the tall grass before a wildebeest reaches the greener layer.

Blue wildebeest are grazers with broad mouths and large forequarters. Both sexes carry curved horns. Feeding and social behaviour vary with conditions, and their association with zebras includes a practical connection between the heights of grass each animal prefers.[1]

Follow the evidence ↓
Blue wildebeest
Image: Charles J. Sharp · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Main food
Short grasses[1]
Horns
Present in both sexes[1]
Daily rhythm
Morning and late-afternoon activity, with midday rest[1]

Different grazers, different layers

Wildebeest prefer short grass and have broad mouths suited to cropping it. Plains zebras take the taller upper canopy, exposing lower green material that wildebeest favour. The animals can therefore use a feeding area in complementary ways rather than simply competing for an identical bite. When grass is scarce, foliage from shrubs and trees can also be eaten.[1]

Horns on cows as well as bulls

Horns extend sideways, then curve upward and inward. Males typically carry larger horns, but their presence is not a male-only trait. The heavy forequarters and broad horned head can give the animal a cattle-like appearance, even though it is an antelope.[1]

Groups with different roles

Wildebeest rest near other members of their species and travel in loose aggregations. Males may form bachelor groups; territorial bulls mark with dung, gland secretions and displays. Morning and late afternoon are important active periods, with heat-of-day rest. Activity differs between age and sex groups, so a herd does not imply identical activity by every member.[1]

A COMMON MIX-UP

Do only male wildebeest have horns?

No. Both males and females have horns, although those of males are usually larger.[1]

TRY A LITTLE REASONING

How could zebra grazing improve access to food for a wildebeest?

Reveal the explanation

Removing the taller upper grass can expose lower, greener material preferred by wildebeest.[1]

Sources & editorial notes

Adapted and translated from the cited Wikipedia revisions, with source-linked reasoning. Image credit and licence are listed separately above.

Adapted and translated from Wikipedia contributors; exact revisions are linked below. CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Wikipedia contributors — Connochaetes taurinus (adapted and translated; exact revision)
  2. NCBI Taxonomy — Connochaetes taurinus (identity and game lineage)

Last fact check:

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