the strip-gnu occurs in the south and southeast of Africa in 5 subtypes, of which the white-beard-gnu (Connochaetus t). albojubatus, the most known is.
Shape The withers-height of the strip-gnu amounts until 140 cm, its weight usually by 250 kg. Strip-gnus are big, powerfully built antelopes. The magnificent, narrow head has a wide muzzle with slit-shaped nose-holes, that are covered by a skin fold. The back-line clearly falls away. (With the white-tail-gnu, the back is straight.) A dense, black hair-cushion is on forehead and nose-backs. From the neck to the shoulder, a long, tipping over, black mane extends. The tail is equipped with a long, black tassel. The "beard" is at the neck-underside. Both sexes carry horns with a bulge-good basis. With adult strip-gnus, the horn-tops point inside. Young are brownish colored. its horns are still exactly directional upward.
Habitat Strip-gnus prefer savanna-landscapes in level and hill-country until in over 2000 m of height.
Way of life The strip-gnus live in big stoves, that can include tithe-end-end of animals. In many sharing of its spread-area, this type puts the biggest share of the animal biomass. The herds are almost constantly on the way. Causing, the food-search is for the traveling-trains. With nightly hikes, the animals visit as clear as possible terrain to the avoidance of enemies. The inter-toe-glands of the gnus place scent-brands, that serve as signposts for following Artgenossen.
Young males form bachelor-herds. Where is existing over Äsung the whole year, as in the Ngorongoro-Krater, the traveling-movements are less distinctive. The herds often are with herds of zebras and other antelope-types mixes in.
Strip-gnus move in the amble. With active walk, they execute vaultings and wave strikingly with the tails. On its hikes, they overcome swimming the waters lying in the way. They hardly cross the steep-waste of the East-African ditch.
The voice of the strip-gnus is a snort or grunt; Calves bleat. The males give quacking lutes of itself.
Lions are the main-enemies of the gnus. These antelopes amount up to 50 percent of the lion-loot. Hyenas and jackals become dangerous to the Setzzeit for the gnus. The carnivores follow the migrant stoves. To the defense of an enemy, gnus often form a circle about it and make front for it. In this situation, a carnivore doesn't decide on the attack many times. At the escape, gnus throw up the heads and beat wildly with the tails.
Reproduction From its 4. Year of life from constructs precinct the males during the combination-time. They mark the territory through shredders of the pre-eye-glands at the ground and defend it against rivals. At the fights, the bucks settle on the wrists and try to either push themselves away with forehead and horn-basis mutually, or it hakeln with the horns. Passing females are covered by the precinct-owners. If territories lie on the footpath, they only become short-term, possibly only few hours long, occupies.
After 240-255 days of Tragzeit, the female tosses a young. The Setzzeit falls usually shortly before the beginning of the rain-time. it lasts approximately 2-3 weeks and is much shorter than the combination-time. Apparently, the females have a possibility, that to synchronize births. The boys are therefore placed almost simultaneously. Bearing females are guarded by other females, who scare away jackals and hyenas. Nevertheless, much boy falls victim to the carnivores. Adolescent boy often succumbs to the beef-plague. The calves follow its mothers already few minutes after the birth.
Continuance The strip-gnu is even much more frequent than the white-tail-gnu (C). gnou. In many sharing of its spread-area, big herds of these antelopes still live.
Scientific name: