---
title: "What the sources say about the Blue Wildebeest | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "39 claims from the Blue Wildebeest profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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# What the sources say about the Blue Wildebeest (*Connochaetes taurinus*)

> 39 claims from the Blue Wildebeest profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Blue Wildebeest](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/blue-wildebeest/)

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-2.rlts.t5229a163322525.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | Least Concern (LC) (note: stats.conservationStatus; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List for taxon 5229) |
| The IUCN Red List rates the blue wildebeest Least Concern. | Least Concern (LC) |
| No. The IUCN Red List's 2016 assessment rates it Least Concern. | Least Concern (LC) (note: 2016 is the assessment year in the reference's DOI and title) |

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

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0602-4

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A bearded grassland grazer whose foreleg muscle is substantially more efficient than a cow's. | Wildebeest 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') |
| Forelimb muscle that works at 62.6% efficiency, against 41.8% in a cow's | muscle 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.) |
| Forelimb muscle | intact muscle biopsies from the forelimb flexor carpi ulnaris of wildebeest and domestic cows (note: stats.superpower: forelimb) |
| In hot, dry Northern Botswana, GPS-collared wildebeest walked up to 80 km over five days without drinking. | blue 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 (note: Botswana population; 'up to 80 km' kept in the sentence) |
| In hot, dry Northern Botswana, GPS-collared wildebeest | used GPS-tracking collars 10 with movement and environmental sensors to show that blue wildebeest |
| Scientists also measured the efficiency of a foreleg muscle from wildebeest and from domestic cows, which are much larger and relatively sedentary. | intact muscle biopsies from the forelimb flexor carpi ulnaris of wildebeest and domestic cows (Bos taurus, 760 kg), a comparable but relatively sedentary ruminant |
| which are much larger | much larger cows (41.8%) |
| Wildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%). | Wildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%) |
| In one study, GPS-collared blue wildebeest walked up to 80 km over five days without drinking | blue 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 |
| their foreleg muscle is substantially more efficient than a cow's | Wildebeest muscle was substantially more efficient (62.6%) than the same muscle from much larger cows (41.8%) |
| weightKg: 220 | blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus, 220 kg) (note: task #1261) |

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

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Connochaetes_taurinus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A bearded grassland grazer | In general, wildebeest have a mane and a beard (note: tagline: bearded) |
| A bearded grassland grazer | Wildebeest are grazers (note: tagline: grazer) |
| Habitats from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, in eastern and southern Africa from Kenya to eastern Namibia | common in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to eastern Namibia (note: stats.habitat: range) |
| Habitats from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, in eastern and southern Africa from Kenya to eastern Namibia | can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from dense bush to open woodland floodplains (note: stats.habitat: habitats) |
| Mostly rapidly growing grasses, plus leaves from shrubs and trees when grass is sparse | 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. (note: stats.diet) |
| A blue wildebeest is slate gray with tan forelegs and dark vertical stripes on the shoulders and back. | blue 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 |
| It has cow-like horns, a mane and a beard. | broad shoulders, cow like horns, and a broad muzzle ... In general, wildebeest have a mane and a beard |
| Across the species, Animal Diversity Web gives a mass range of 118 to 270 kg. | They range in mass from 118 kg to 270 kg |
| Blue wildebeest are common in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to eastern Namibia. | Blue wildebeest are common in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to eastern Namibia. |
| The Orange River in South Africa borders their southern range. | Their southern range is bordered by the Orange River in South Africa. |
| They live in habitats from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, but seem to prefer acacia savannas and plains with fast-regrowing grass. | from dense bush to open woodland floodplains, however, they appear to prefer acacia savannahs and plains with rapidly regrowing grasses |
| They are grazers. Their main food is rapidly growing grasses, and when grass is sparse they may eat leaves off shrubs and trees. | Wildebeest 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. |
| Lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs are their major predators. | The major predators of wildebeest are lions , cheetahs , spotted hyenas , and African wild dogs |
| wildebeest bunch together, stamp and give loud, shrill alarm calls | wildebeest bunch together, stamp, and utter loud, shrill alarm calls |
| Mothers often defend their calves successfully against individual hyenas or cheetahs. | Wildebeest mothers often defend their calves successfully against individual hyenas or cheetahs. |
| Within about six minutes, according to Animal Diversity Web. An average newborn weighs about 19 kg. | Average 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. |
| A male's bellow can carry up to 2 km, says Animal Diversity Web. | A male's bellow can carry up to 2 km. |
| adult males are generally darker than females | Adult males are generally darker than females. |
| Herds are generally made up of about 8 females and their calves, with territorial bulls wandering among them. | Herds are generally made up of about 8 females and their calves, while territorial bulls wander amongst their herd. |

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

https://doi.org/10.4102/sajs.v106i11/12.423

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Males stand about 130 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 210 to 260 kg | with males ~130 cm tall at the shoulder 8 and weighing between 210 kg and 260 kg |

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

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Connochaetes_taurinus

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The AnAge database records one captive blue wildebeest that lived 24.3 years. | One specimen lived 24.3 years in captivity |

## 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.

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1614778114

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The 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 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) |
| When the migration crosses the Mara River, thousands drown each year. | crossing of the Mara River, during which thousands drown annually |
| The 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. | Mass 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') |
| Half of a wildebeest carcass's dry mass is bone, which takes 7 years to decompose. | Half of a wildebeest carcass dry mass is bone, which takes 7 y to decompose |