AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Blue WildebeestConnochaetes taurinus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Blue Wildebeest profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 39 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016

Connochaetes taurinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T5229A163322525.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast Concern (LC)Note: stats.conservationStatus; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List for taxon 5229
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the blue wildebeest Least Concern.
The source saysLeast Concern (LC)
The page saysNo. The IUCN Red List's 2016 assessment rates it Least Concern.
The source saysLeast Concern (LC)Note: 2016 is the assessment year in the reference's DOI and title

Source
02

Curtin et al. 2018

Curtin et al. (2018). Remarkable muscles, remarkable locomotion in desert-dwelling wildebeest. Nature.

The page saysA bearded grassland grazer whose foreleg muscle is substantially more efficient than a cow's.
The source saysWildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%)Note: tagline: efficiency; the muscle was the forelimb flexor carpi ulnaris, so 'foreleg muscle'
The page saysForelimb muscle that works at 62.6% efficiency, against 41.8% in a cow's
The source saysmuscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%)Note: stats.superpower. The muscle was the forelimb flexor carpi ulnaris.
The page saysForelimb muscle
The source saysintact muscle biopsies from the forelimb flexor carpi ulnaris of wildebeest and domestic cowsNote: stats.superpower: forelimb
The page saysIn hot, dry Northern Botswana, GPS-collared wildebeest walked up to 80 km over five days without drinking.
The source saysblue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus, 220 kg) that live in a hot arid environment in Northern Botswana walked up to 80 km over five days without drinkingNote: Botswana population; 'up to 80 km' kept in the sentence
The page saysIn hot, dry Northern Botswana, GPS-collared wildebeest
The source saysused GPS-tracking collars 10 with movement and environmental sensors to show that blue wildebeest
The page saysScientists also measured the efficiency of a foreleg muscle from wildebeest and from domestic cows, which are much larger and relatively sedentary.
The source saysintact muscle biopsies from the forelimb flexor carpi ulnaris of wildebeest and domestic cows (Bos taurus, 760 kg), a comparable but relatively sedentary ruminant
The page sayswhich are much larger
The source saysmuch larger cows (41.8%)
The page saysWildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%).
The source saysWildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%)
The page saysIn one study, GPS-collared blue wildebeest walked up to 80 km over five days without drinking
The source saysblue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus, 220 kg) that live in a hot arid environment in Northern Botswana walked up to 80 km over five days without drinking
The page saystheir foreleg muscle is substantially more efficient than a cow's
The source saysWildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%)
The page saysweightKg: 220
The source saysblue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus, 220 kg)Note: task #1261

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Connochaetes taurinus (blue wildebeest). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA bearded grassland grazer
The source saysIn general, wildebeest have a mane and a beardNote: tagline: bearded
The page saysA bearded grassland grazer
The source saysWildebeest are grazersNote: tagline: grazer
The page saysHabitats from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, in eastern and southern Africa from Kenya to eastern Namibia
The source sayscommon in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to eastern NamibiaNote: stats.habitat: range
The page saysHabitats from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, in eastern and southern Africa from Kenya to eastern Namibia
The source sayscan be found in a wide variety of habitats, from dense bush to open woodland floodplainsNote: stats.habitat: habitats
The page saysMostly rapidly growing grasses, plus leaves from shrubs and trees when grass is sparse
The source saysTheir primary food consists of rapidly growing colonial grasses found on the savannah and the plains. When grasses are sparse, they may eat leaves off of shrubs and trees.Note: stats.diet
The page saysA blue wildebeest is slate gray with tan forelegs and dark vertical stripes on the shoulders and back.
The source saysblue wildebeest are smaller and lighter in weight and are slate gray with tan forelegs ... Blue wildebeest are uniquely marked by dark vertical stripes on the shoulders and back
The page saysIt has cow-like horns, a mane and a beard.
The source saysbroad shoulders, cow like horns, and a broad muzzle ... In general, wildebeest have a mane and a beard
The page saysAcross the species, Animal Diversity Web gives a mass range of 118 to 270 kg.
The source saysThey range in mass from 118 kg to 270 kg
The page saysBlue wildebeest are common in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to eastern Namibia.
The source saysBlue wildebeest are common in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to eastern Namibia.
The page saysThe Orange River in South Africa borders their southern range.
The source saysTheir southern range is bordered by the Orange River in South Africa.
The page saysThey live in habitats from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, but seem to prefer acacia savannas and plains with fast-regrowing grass.
The source saysfrom dense bush to open woodland floodplains, however, they appear to prefer acacia savannahs and plains with rapidly regrowing grasses
The page saysThey are grazers. Their main food is rapidly growing grasses, and when grass is sparse they may eat leaves off shrubs and trees.
The source saysWildebeest are grazers ... Their primary food consists of rapidly growing colonial grasses found on the savannah and the plains. When grasses are sparse, they may eat leaves off of shrubs and trees.
The page saysLions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs are their major predators.
The source saysThe major predators of wildebeest are lions , cheetahs , spotted hyenas , and African wild dogs
The page sayswildebeest bunch together, stamp and give loud, shrill alarm calls
The source sayswildebeest bunch together, stamp, and utter loud, shrill alarm calls
The page saysMothers often defend their calves successfully against individual hyenas or cheetahs.
The source saysWildebeest mothers often defend their calves successfully against individual hyenas or cheetahs.
The page saysWithin about six minutes, according to Animal Diversity Web. An average newborn weighs about 19 kg.
The source saysAverage birth weight of new born calves is approximately 19 kg. Approximately 6 minutes after birth, calves can stand on their own and begin to nurse.
The page saysA male's bellow can carry up to 2 km, says Animal Diversity Web.
The source saysA male's bellow can carry up to 2 km.
The page saysadult males are generally darker than females
The source saysAdult males are generally darker than females.
The page saysHerds are generally made up of about 8 females and their calves, with territorial bulls wandering among them.
The source saysHerds are generally made up of about 8 females and their calves, while territorial bulls wander amongst their herd.

Source
04

Ackermann et al. 2010

Ackermann et al. (2010). Hybrid wildebeest (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) provide further evidence for shared signatures of admixture in mammalian crania. South African Journal of Science.

The page saysMales stand about 130 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 210 to 260 kg
The source sayswith males ~130 cm tall at the shoulder 8 and weighing between 210 kg and 260 kg

Source
05

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Connochaetes taurinus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysThe AnAge database records one captive blue wildebeest that lived 24.3 years.
The source saysOne specimen lived 24.3 years in captivity

Source
06

Subalusky et al. 2017

Subalusky et al. (2017). Annual mass drownings of the Serengeti wildebeest migration influence nutrient cycling and storage in the Mara River. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysThe annual migration of about 1.2 million wildebeest through the Serengeti Mara ecosystem is, a 2017 study says, the largest remaining overland migration in the world.
The source saysThe annual migration of ∼1.2 million wildebeest ( Connochaetes taurinus ) through the Serengeti Mara Ecosystem is the largest remaining overland migration in the world.Note: population: Serengeti Mara; 2017 is the paper's year
The page saysWhen the migration crosses the Mara River, thousands drown each year.
The source sayscrossing of the Mara River, during which thousands drown annually
The page saysThe same study found mass drownings of more than 100 animals in at least 13 of the 15 years before it, and on average 6,250 carcasses entering the river each year.
The source saysMass drownings (>100 individuals) occurred in at least 13 of the past 15 y; on average, 6,250 carcasses and 1,100 tons of biomass enter the river each year.Note: 'the same study' is Subalusky et al. 2017; 'the 15 years before it' dates the paper's 'past 15 y'
The page saysHalf of a wildebeest carcass's dry mass is bone, which takes 7 years to decompose.
The source saysHalf of a wildebeest carcass dry mass is bone, which takes 7 y to decompose

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.