Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
The Blue Wildebeest has lightly built hindquarters and is more robust at the shoulders. The head is large with a broad snout. Adult animals are dark grey tinged with brown, and in certain light conditions a silvery sheen is discernable. A number of vertical, darker stripes are present from the neck to just behind the rib-cage. It is frequently referred to as the Brindled (brown-streaked) Gnu for this reason. There is a mane of long black hair down the back of the neck and a beard of black hair on the throat. The front of the face is almost black, although an area of brown hair may be present at the horn base, particularly in younger animals. The tail is black and horse-like.
Shoulder height: 1,5 m (male); 1,3 m (female)
Mass: 250 kg (male); 180 kg (female)
Horns: average length: 60 cm – measured from tip to tip along both horns. Both sexes have horns, although those of the cow are less robust. The horn bases form a boss over the top of the head and the horns themselves grow outwards, turn sharply up and then inwards.
