The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. It is the only animal classified in the genus Alcelaphus.

The Hartebeest stands almost 1.5 m (5 ft) at the shoulder and weighs anywhere from 120-200 kg (265-440 lb). Male Hartebeest are a dark brown colour while females are yellow brown. The horns found in both sexes curve outwards, then forewards, and then backward, the distinctive (cartoon) "heart" shape lending the hartebeest its name. They can reach a length of 70 cm (27 in).

Hartebeest live in grassland and open forest where they eat grass. They are diurnal and spend the morning and late afternoon eating. Herds contain five to twenty individuals but can occasionally contain up to three hundred and fifty.

Seven subspecies have been described.

• Bubal Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus buselaphus (Extinct)

• Red (Cape) Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
• Coke's Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii
• Lelwel Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel
• Western Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus major
• Swayne's Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei
• Tora Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus tora

Two subspecies cross breeds are recognised by some sectors the commercial hunting fraternity.

• Kenya Highland Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel x cokii

• Neumann Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel x swaynei. (Ethiopia)

Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Sigmoceros lichtensteinii is classified by some in the Alcelaphus genus as Alcelaphus lichtensteinii.

Two other species less commonly known as 'Hartebeest' are classed in the Damaliscus genus.

• Korrigum (Senegal Hartebeest), Damaliscus lunatus korrigum

• Tiang (Tiang Hartebeest), Damaliscus lunatus tiang

References

• Search Alcelaphus on IUCN Red List.

External links

• Hartebeest: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• Animal Diversity Web Alcelaphus buselaphus (hartebeest)

Bovids | Fauna of West Africa | Fauna of Sudan | Fauna of Ethiopia | Fauna of East Africa | Fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Fauna of the Congo | Fauna of Namibia | Fauna of South Africa | Fauna of Angola

Hartebeest | Alcelafo | Alcelafo stepa | Bubale | Galvijinė antilopė | Hartenbeest | Hartebeest | 狷羚