Red hartebeest
The red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama) is a large, even-toed ungulate in the family Bovidae, endemic to southern Africa, notable for its reddish-fawn coat, steeply sloping back, elongated face, and prominent ringed horns in both sexes that curve backward and inward in a characteristic lyre shape.[1][2] Adults typically measure 1.5 to 2.45 meters in head-body length, stand 1.1 to 1.5 meters at the shoulder, and weigh between 120 and 200 kilograms, with males generally larger than females.[1][3] This subspecies is distinguished by darker markings on the face and legs, a white rump patch, and a black tufted tail, adaptations that aid in camouflage within its grassland habitats.[1] Native to open savannas, grasslands, and semi-arid bushveld across countries including Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the red hartebeest prefers areas with short to medium grasses but can tolerate scrublands and avoids dense woodlands.[2][1] As selective grazers, they primarily consume grasses such as Andropogon species, supplemented by browse during dry seasons, and require access to water sources though they are less dependent on it than some congeners.[1] Socially gregarious, they form herds of 10 to 20 individuals, occasionally aggregating into larger groups of up to 300 during migrations, exhibiting diurnal activity patterns with high-speed flight responses reaching 70-80 km/h to evade predators like lions and cheetahs.[1][2] Reproduction is seasonal, with gestation lasting 214-242 days, typically producing one calf after peaks in births from October to November in southern regions; lifespan in the wild averages 11-15 years.[1] Once heavily reduced by hunting and habitat loss in the 19th and early 20th centuries, red hartebeest populations have rebounded through conservation efforts, including reintroductions across South Africa, with a global estimate of around 130,000 individuals as of 1999 and an increasing trend noted through 2015.[2] Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and stable numbers, the subspecies faces ongoing threats from poaching, drought, and competition with livestock, though protected areas and sustainable management have ensured its persistence.[2]Taxonomy and etymology
Scientific classification
The red hartebeest is classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy:| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia [1] |
| Phylum | Chordata [1] |
| Class | Mammalia [1] |
| Order | Artiodactyla [1] |
| Family | Bovidae [1] |
| Subfamily | Alcelaphinae [4] |
| Tribe | Alcelaphini [4] |
| Genus | Alcelaphus [1] |
| Species | Alcelaphus buselaphus [2] |
| Subspecies | A. b. caama [2] |