Tsessebe

These ungulates are in the same family as hartebeest and wildebeest, characterized by an ungainly appearance because their shoulders are higher than the withers. They can run up to 60 km/hour.

Adults can be 150-230 cm tall, with average weights of 137 kg for males and 120 kg for females. The horns reach up to 37 cm for females and 40 cm for males and have a half-moon shape when seen from the front. Their bodies have several colors: rump is chestnut-brown with a purplish sheen, forelimbs and thighs gray or bluish-black, hind limbs brownish-yellow to yellow and bellies white or yellow. The front of their face and tail tuft are black. They eat grasses, preferring leaves over stems.

To sleep, they rest their heads mouth down on the ground with their horns sticking straight up into the air. Males have been observed standing in parallel ranks with their eyes closed, bobbing their heads back and forth. Scientists do not yet have an explanation for this behavior.

Females form herds of 6-10 individuals with their young. Both sexes mark territory by anointing their foreheads and horns with secretions from glands near their eyes. They accomplish this by inserting grass stems into their pre-orbital glands to coat it with secretion, then waving it around, letting the secretions fall onto their heads and horns. They also rub the sides of their faces on the ground, usually on a termite mound or on a sandy patch, dropping to their knees to do so.

After males turn one year of age, they are ejected from the herd and form bachelor herds with as many as 30 young bulls. Territorial adult bulls form herds the same size as young bulls. They declare their territory by moving in erect posture, high-stepping, defecating in a crouch stance, ground-horning, mudpacking, shoulder-wiping, and grunting.

“Leks” are established by the adult males in an area which females visit only for the purpose of mating. Female choice of a mate is independent of any direct male influence. The grouping of males can appeal to females for three reasons. First, groups can provide protection from predators. Second, if males group in an area with a low food supply, this prevents competition between males and females for resources. Finally, the grouping provides females with a wider variety of mates to choose from as they are all located in one central area. Dominant males occupy the center of the leks and so females are more likely to mate at the center. One calf is born around October, reaching sexual maturity in 2-3.5 years.