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Forgive my ignorance on African game animals, but other than color, what is the difference between black, blue, golden(?) wildebeest? Is it where they range in Africa? Awesome photos! Thanks!They are beautiful animals, tough to put down and yet very good eating!
Forgive my ignorance on African game animals, but other than color, what is the difference between black, blue, golden(?) wildebeest? Is it where they range in Africa? Awesome photos! Thanks!
Thanks very much for the information! No, I'm not into designer trophies, unless there is a wild pink elephant somewhere in Africa! Ha!Ha!Ha!Get an identification field guide for African animals. Smither's Mammals of Southern Africa isn't bad. The small and inexpensive Sportsman's Handbook by Rowland Ward is pocket sized and is very handy.
The Black Wildebeest is also known as the White-tailed Gnu (they do have a long white tail). The Blue Wildebeest is also known as the Common Wildebeest (there are lots of them) and sometimes the Brindled Gnu (most appear brindled). Both are genus Cannochaetes with the Black being the species Cannochaetes gnou and the Blue being the species Cannochaetes taurinus. They have very different appearances and are easy to distinguish in the field. The Blue Wildebeest is somewhat larger than the Black Wildebeest.
Color phases, like the "golden", of the Blue species, Cannochaetes taurinus, have been bred for and/or selected for and have become "higher dollar designer trophies" .... if you're into such things??.
Get an identification field guide for African animals. Smither's Mammals of Southern Africa isn't bad. The small and inexpensive Sportsman's Handbook by Rowland Ward is pocket sized and is very handy.
The Black Wildebeest is also known as the White-tailed Gnu (they do have a long white tail). The Blue Wildebeest is also known as the Common Wildebeest (there are lots of them) and sometimes the Brindled Gnu (most appear brindled). Both are genus Cannochaetes with the Black being the species Cannochaetes gnou and the Blue being the species Cannochaetes taurinus. They have very different appearances and are easy to distinguish in the field. The Blue Wildebeest is somewhat larger than the Black Wildebeest.
Color phases, like the "golden", of the Blue species, Cannochaetes taurinus, have been bred for and/or selected for and have become "higher dollar designer trophies" .... if you're into such things??.
You can say that again about them being kind of goofy. Both species tend to be unpredictable by nature with the Black Wildebeest being the most unpredictable. One minute walking along peacefully grazing then turning 180 degrees in two jumps and running full blast for half mile then stopping and turning 180 degrees again running full speed past where they started with a few individuals in the herd looking at you, heads turned 90 degrees while never loosing a step.