The red hartebeest Alcelaphus caama
The red hartebeest (Alcelaphus caama) is a slender animal with long, thin legs. Both males and females have horns that curve slightly forward and outwards and then point back inwards. The body length of the red hartebeest reaches 230 cm, shoulder height is 150 cm, and weight, 180 kg. The red hartebeest’s short tail measures 30 cm in length, is covered with long dark brown to black hairs, and does not have a tuft. Its short coat’s colour is bright red; the rump has a white patch, and the head and legs are partly black. The red wildebeest occurs in South Africa, where it inhabits open savannah grasslands. Red hartebeests are gregarious animals that are normally feeding in herds of around 10 to 20 animals, but when fresh grass is abundant, they may gather in larger herds. Red hartebeests feed on grass and leaves, often foraging on the sites of recent fires. The red hartebeest is extremely fast runner, capable of reaching speeds of 70 kilometres per hour. When fleeing, the red hartebeest carries its head low and runs with a trotting gait, then switches to the gallop alternating with wild up-and-forward jumps. While drinking water, these animals often stand on their knees and rub their horns and foreheads on wet soil, after which they “dry” their heads rubbing them against the sides of their bodies.
