Connochaetes taurinus
Range
They are found in eastern Africa.Habitat
They live on the African savannas.Body Traits
They are large animals weighing more than 500 pounds (260 kg). They are larger in the front shoulders and slope down to the rear end. They have a large head with a dark face and a wide mouth for feeding on grass and horns. They have a mane and a short, grayish-brown, shiny coat.Habits
They graze in the early-morning and late-afternoon near water and drink midday (when most predators are sleeping). They can run up to 50 mph (80 km/h).Diet
They eat grass.Predators
They are killed by hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, crocodiles and lions.Reproduction
Females are pregnant for 8.5 months (gestation) and have 1 young that can stand within minutes. This is important on the African savanna where predators look for vulnerable prey.Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
They can live 20 years in the wild. They are listed as Lower Risk – conservation dependent.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Bovidae
- Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
- Genus: Connochaetes
- Species: Connochaetes taurinus