Mammals
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus · also called hartebeests
Running at a steady, sustained pace across the open savanna, a hartebeest carries an unmistakably elongated face and ring-shaped horns unlike almost any other antelope, its various subspecies spread across Africa telling very different conservation stories.
Overview
The hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus, is a distinctively shaped antelope native to savanna and grassland habitat across a wide range spanning much of Africa. Its unusually elongated face, ring-shaped horns present on both sexes, and dramatic variation in conservation status between subspecies make it one of the most anatomically distinctive and conservation-complex antelope species found anywhere on the continent.
One species, many different fates
Few antelope illustrate the complexity of conservation status as clearly as the hartebeest, whose various subspecies range from thriving and widespread to critically endangered, all under the umbrella of a single species classified overall as Least Concern.
Status
Least Concern as a species overall, though individual subspecies range from common to critically endangered depending on region.
Hartebeest: common questions
Why does the hartebeest have such an unusual face shape?
This species has a notably elongated face compared to most other antelope, a distinctive skull shape that sets it apart from other grazing antelope sharing the same savanna habitat.
Do both male and female hartebeest have horns?
Yes, this species has ring-shaped, lyre-like horns present on both males and females, an unusual shape that rises steeply before curving outward near the tips.
Are all hartebeest subspecies equally common?
No, this species includes several distinct subspecies with dramatically different conservation status, ranging from widespread and common to critically endangered depending on the specific population and region.
How good a runner is the hartebeest?
This species is a capable, sustained runner, able to maintain a fast pace over longer distances than some antelope that are better built for short, explosive bursts of speed.