Wildebeest (/ˈwɪldɪbiːst/ WIL-dib-eest,[2][3][4]/ˈvɪl-/ VIL-,[4]), also called gnu (/nuː/ NOO or /njuː/NEW),[5][6][7] are antelopes of the genus Connochaetes and native to Eastern and Southern Africa. They belong to the family Bovidae, which includes true antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, and other even-toed horned ungulates. There are two species of wildebeest: the black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (C. gnou), and the blue wildebeest or brindled gnu (C. taurinus).
Wildebeest | |
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Blue wildebeest, C. taurinus Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania | |
Black wildebeest, C. gnou Krugersdorp Game Reserve, South Africa |