# Black Wildebeest (*connochaetes gnou*) The Black Wildebeest is a unique animal with curly horns that loves to run in herds! They are known for their playful nature and can often be seen leaping across the grasslands. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** They live in open grasslands and savannas in southern Africa. - **Also known as:** Blue Wildebeest, White-tailed Gnu ![Black Wildebeest](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gnou_Thoiry_19803.jpg&width=800) Photo: Vassil, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gnou_Thoiry_19803.jpg) ## Appearance The Black Wildebeest has a shaggy, dark brown to black coat and a distinctive, long, bushy white tail that swishes as it moves. Its unique horns curve forward, then down and up, while a stiff mane and beard complete its rugged look, setting it apart from its blue cousin. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Connochaetes ## Interesting facts - Baby wildebeest can stand and run within minutes of being born! - Black Wildebeests are also called white-tailed gnus for their bushy tails. - Their unique horns curve like hooks, almost touching at the tips! - They love to roll in dust baths to clean their shaggy coats. ## Special abilities - **Keen Sense of Smell:** Black Wildebeest can find the freshest grass because of their excellent sense of smell that helps them locate nutrient-rich food. - **Teamwork Defense:** Black Wildebeest has a strong herd instinct that helps them confuse predators and protect their young by running together. - **Endurance Runner:** Black Wildebeest can escape danger because of their powerful legs that help them run swiftly over long distances. - **Grass Clipper Teeth:** Black Wildebeest has specialized wide teeth that help them efficiently clip and eat tough, short grasses in the plains. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 170-240 cm - **Weight:** 110-180 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 255-265 days ## Diet & Feeding These herbivores are expert grass-eaters, using their wide mouths to crop short, nutritious blades. - **Primary Foods:** short grasses, succulents, karoo bushes - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Main predator of adult wildebeest and calves. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hunts calves and sometimes adult wildebeest. - **Eaten by:** [African Wild Dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-wild-dog) (*Lycaon pictus*) — Packs effectively hunt wildebeest in their range. - **Eats:** [Bermuda Grass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bermuda-grass) (*Cynodon dactylon*) — A primary food source in their grassland habitat. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Wildebeest? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black Wildebeest? 170-240 cm ### How much does Black Wildebeest weigh? 110-180 kg ### How long does Black Wildebeest live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Black Wildebeest move? 80 km/h ### What does Black Wildebeest eat? These herbivores are expert grass-eaters, using their wide mouths to crop short, nutritious blades. ### Where is Black Wildebeest usually found? They live in open grasslands and savannas in southern Africa. ### How does Black Wildebeest hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Hamm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hamm) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Black Wildebeest: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-wildebeest)