Where do hartebeests live?

Hartebeests are African antelopes that live in herds on open plains and scrublands in sub-Saharan Africa. They once had the widest range of all African antelopes and also lived in North Africa. Their preferred habitat is acacia savanna, though some hartebeests dwell in grassland-woodland areas. These antelopes are social animals, with herds typically consisting of 6–25 females and young. Adult males are territorial.

What does a hartebeest look like?

The hartebeest is a large African antelope with a distinct appearance. It has an elongated head, bracket-shaped horns, and high forequarters that slope to lower hindquarters. There are about 10 subspecies of hartebeest. Hartebeest vary in size and color depending on the subspecies. For example, Coke’s hartebeest is lion-colored with a white rump, while the red hartebeest has black markings and a white belly and rump. Male antelopes have horns, with two-thirds of females also bearing them, though they are typically smaller than those of the males.

What do hartebeests eat?

Hartebeests are herbivores that graze on open plains and scrublands in sub-Saharan Africa. Their long, narrow muzzles enable them to be highly selective grazers of medium to tall grasses. This adaptation gives them an advantage during the dry season because they can efficiently feed on the nutritious leaves and shoots that other less-selective grazers cannot reach.

How do hartebeests protect themselves from predators?

Hartebeests, found in herds on open African plains and scrublands, are large antelopes with elongated heads and bracket-shaped horns. As antelopes of open habitats, they are built for speed with level backs and equally developed limbs (or higher shoulders). This conformation helps them to escape from predators. They are medium to large grass eaters with a revealing coloration. Hartebeests are sociable animals, living in small herds typically composed of 6–25 females and young ones. Adult males are territorial.

What are some challenges that hartebeest populations face today?

Today, hartebeest populations face several challenges, including habitat loss and fragmentation due to agricultural expansion and human settlement. This reduces their grazing areas and restricts movement, impacting their ability to find food and water. Overpopulation by domestic species may upset the delicate natural balance to the detriment of many other typical species. Though many countries have now set aside large tracts as national parks, game reserves, or forest reserves, only some are large enough to be self-contained ecosystems.

hartebeest

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Coke's hartebeest, or kongoni (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei).

Red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama).

Line drawing comparing horn shapes and lengths in six African antelope species: giant sable antelope, greater kudu, bohor reedbuck, oribi, dibatag, and hartebeest, each labeled by name.

Quick Facts

Related Topics:: antelope; Coke’s hartebeest; red hartebeest; Lichtenstein’s hartebeest; western hartebeest

See all related content

hartebeest

mammal

Also known as: Alcelaphus buselaphus

Written by

Richard Estes

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What is a hartebeest?
The hartebeest is a large African antelope in the family Bovidae with an elongated head, bracket-shaped horns, high forequarters, and lower hindquarters. They are members of the tribe Alcelaphini, which also includes wildebeests, the topi, and the blesbok. Hartebeests graze on open plains and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa and formerly North Africa. They are social animals that live in herds consisting of 6–25 females and young. Adult males are territorial.
2 Britannica Sources
1. hartebeest
2. artiodactyl: Food habits
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where do hartebeests live?
Hartebeests are African antelopes that live in herds on open plains and scrublands in sub-Saharan Africa. They once had the widest range of all African antelopes and also lived in North Africa. Their preferred habitat is acacia savanna, though some hartebeests dwell in grassland-woodland areas.

These antelopes are social animals, with herds typically consisting of 6–25 females and young. Adult males are territorial.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Africa: Conservation of Africa
2. hartebeest
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What does a hartebeest look like?
The hartebeest is a large African antelope with a distinct appearance. It has an elongated head, bracket-shaped horns, and high forequarters that slope to lower hindquarters. There are about 10 subspecies of hartebeest.

Hartebeest vary in size and color depending on the subspecies. For example, Coke’s hartebeest is lion-colored with a white rump, while the red hartebeest has black markings and a white belly and rump. Male antelopes have horns, with two-thirds of females also bearing them, though they are typically smaller than those of the males.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do hartebeests eat?
Hartebeests are herbivores that graze on open plains and scrublands in sub-Saharan Africa. Their long, narrow muzzles enable them to be highly selective grazers of medium to tall grasses. This adaptation gives them an advantage during the dry season because they can efficiently feed on the nutritious leaves and shoots that other less-selective grazers cannot reach.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do hartebeests protect themselves from predators?
Hartebeests, found in herds on open African plains and scrublands, are large antelopes with elongated heads and bracket-shaped horns. As antelopes of open habitats, they are built for speed with level backs and equally developed limbs (or higher shoulders). This conformation helps them to escape from predators. They are medium to large grass eaters with a revealing coloration. Hartebeests are sociable animals, living in small herds typically composed of 6–25 females and young ones. Adult males are territorial.
2 Britannica Sources
1. hartebeest
2. antelope: Appearance and behaviour
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some challenges that hartebeest populations face today?
Today, hartebeest populations face several challenges, including habitat loss and fragmentation due to agricultural expansion and human settlement. This reduces their grazing areas and restricts movement, impacting their ability to find food and water. Overpopulation by domestic species may upset the delicate natural balance to the detriment of many other typical species. Though many countries have now set aside large tracts as national parks, game reserves, or forest reserves, only some are large enough to be self-contained ecosystems.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

hartebeest, (Alcelaphus buselaphus), large African antelope (family Bovidae) with an elongated head, unusual bracket-shaped horns, and high forequarters sloping to lower hindquarters—a trait of the tribe Alcelaphini, which also includes wildebeests, the topi, and the blesbok. DNA studies indicate that there are about 10 subspecies of Alcelaphus buselaphus, including some that were formerly recognized as separate species of Alcelaphus.

Hartebeest are found in herds on open plains and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa. Once the widest-ranging of African antelopes, they also once lived in North Africa. One well-known variety, Coke’s hartebeest, or the kongoni (A. buselaphus cokei), of East Africa, is the plainest and smallest subspecies, measuring 117 cm (46 inches) high and weighing 142 kg (312 pounds). This subspecies is lion-coloured, with no conspicuous markings except a white rump patch; it has a moderately elongated head and comparatively uncomplicated horns. The red hartebeest (A. buselaphus caama) of southwest Africa is the most colourful, with extensive black markings setting off a white belly and rump; it has a more elongated head and high horns that curve in a complex pattern and are joined at the base. The largest hartebeest is the western hartebeest (A. buselaphus tora), which weighs 228 kg (502 pounds) and stands 143 cm (56 inches) tall. Females are 12 percent smaller than males, with smaller but similarly shaped horns.

Lichtenstein’s hartebeest (A. buselaphus lichtensteinii), which inhabits the miombo woodland zone of eastern and southern Africa, has also been treated as a separate species (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii). The preferred habitat of the hartebeest is acacia savanna, though Lichtenstein’s hartebeest lives on the grassland-woodland ecotone in the broad-leaved deciduous miombo woodland zone. The hartebeest’s long, narrow muzzle enables it to be a highly selective grazer in medium to tall grass, thereby gaining an advantage during the dry season when less-selective grazers (e.g., wildebeest and topi) cannot feed efficiently on the nutritious leaves and shoots that make up a small part of the unpalatable old growth.

Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

Britannica Quiz

Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz

Hartebeests are sociable, and adult males are territorial. Small herds of 6–25 females and young are the rule. In preferred habitat at relatively high density, a herd’s home range covers 370–550 hectares (910–1,360 acres) and may overlap as many as 20–30 territories, averaging 31 hectares (77 acres). The best territories include pastures preferred by females in different seasons, from short upland grass during the rains to tall grass on clay soils that stay green through part of the dry season. In most regions, males defend territories the year round, as females breed within weeks of calving; the red hartebeest, the southernmost variety, breeds annually, calving at the end of the dry season after an eight-month gestation. Mothers may be followed by up to three offspring, including males up to two and a half years old. Territorial bulls tolerate these young males because their mothers defend them and they perform an elaborate submissive display. However, the young males eventually leave, join a bachelor herd, and then compete for a territory and mating opportunities when mature at four years. Females first calve at three years.

Richard Estes

hartebeest

Thank you for signing up!