Connochaetes taurinus

(Burchell, 1824)

Blue Wildebeest

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Ruminantia
Infraorder : Pecora
Family : Bovidae
Subfamily : Antilopinae
Tribe : Alcelaphini
Genus : Connochaetes

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Burchell, W.J. 1824. Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa. Volume II. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, London, 648 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47028903

Original name as described

Antilope taurina

Other common names

Blouwildebees · Brindled Gnu · Gnu · White-bearded Wildebeest · Johnston's Wildebeest

Type material

BMNH:Mamm:138b

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/7fc62501-7793-4a43-b345-9e59abdb9330

Type locality

Restricted by Roberts in 1951 to Makuba Range, Henningvlei Nature Reserve, between Kuruman and Molopo rivers, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic

Country distribution

Kenya · Tanzania · Mozambique · Zambia · Angola · Namibia · Botswana · Zimbabwe · South Africa · Eswatini

Taxonomy notes

includes albojubatus, johnstoni, and mearnsi, which were considered distinct by Groves & Grubb 2011; for additional information regarding the MDD's decision to not follow the Groves & Grubb 2011 Ungulate Taxonomy, see 'Subjective decisions' on the 'About' tab

Taxonomy notes citation

Groves, C. P. & Grubb, P. 2011. Ungulate taxonomy. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006134

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Antilope taurina

(Burchell, 1824)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

taurinus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:138b

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/7fc62501-7793-4a43-b345-9e59abdb9330

Authority page

278 (footnote)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47028903

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Gervais (1840:267) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67281)
  2. Laurillard (1841:625, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57482963) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60622)

Connochætes taurinus typicus

Bryden, 1899

Family

Bovidae

Root name

typicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

BMNH:Mamm:138b

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/7fc62501-7793-4a43-b345-9e59abdb9330

Authority page

194

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37141406

Authority publication

London

Connochætes taurinus typicus

J. R. Ward, 1910

Family

Bovidae

Root name

typicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum · preoccupied

Type

BMNH:Mamm:138b

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/7fc62501-7793-4a43-b345-9e59abdb9330

Authority page

154

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15015797

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Ward (1910:154, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15015797) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)

Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus

O. Thomas, 1892

Family

Bovidae

Root name

albojubatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1892.6.24.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/c24dbc5d-5fb3-4d56-9842-1426b436a225

Authority page

388

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15618033

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Lydekker (1908:136, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741356) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  2. Allen (1909:155) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16003)
  3. Ward (1910:156, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15015799) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  4. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  5. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:634) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)

Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni

P. L. Sclater, 1896

Family

Bovidae

Root name

johnstoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1896.4.23.1

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/1c5edec0-e58a-4804-8a75-865b59d82c45

Authority page

606

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31032231

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

  1. Lydekker (1908:136, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741356) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  2. Ward (1910:153, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15015796) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  3. Roberts (1913:105, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439563) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)
  4. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Connochaetes taurinus cooksoni

Blaine, 1914

Family

Bovidae

Root name

cooksoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1906.5.2.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f658dcd3-7b11-432a-b528-80d2ce018a32

Authority page

337

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15818574

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochaetes taurinus mattosi

Blaine, 1924

Family

Bovidae

Root name

mattosi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1925.2.16.1

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/850cc403-97fc-4d1b-8efd-5b1eade6ed0a

Authority page

129

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Gorgon olduvaiensis

(Leakey, 1965)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

olduvaiensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:PV:M 21451

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

45

Authority publication

Cambridge

Connochaetus albojubatus henrici

Zukowsky, 1913

Family

Bovidae

Root name

henrici

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MHNG 763.72

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

83

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13320829

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:218) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochaetes taurinus Babaulti

Kollmann, 1918

Family

Bovidae

Root name

babaulti

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN Salle des peaux 127

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

319

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42953704

Authority publication

Bulletin du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochaetes johnstoni rufijianus

De Beaux, 1911

Family

Bovidae

Root name

rufijianus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SMF:MAMM:3040

Type kind

lectotype

Authority page

579

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30153838

Authority publication

Zoologischer Anzeiger

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Gorgon albojubatus mearnsi

(E. Heller, 1913)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

mearnsi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:163020

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/305b250ce-9a70-454c-9e55-dfbedd17ad58

Authority page

1

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30095965

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Connochaetus albojubatus lorenzi

Zukowsky, 1913

Family

Bovidae

Root name

lorenzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

81

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13320827

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:218) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochaetus albojubatus schulzi

Zukowsky, 1913

Family

Bovidae

Root name

schulzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

82

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13320828

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:218) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Antilope gorgon

(Laurillard, 1841)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

gorgon

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

625

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57482963

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Laurillard (1841:625, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57482963) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60622)

Catoblepas taurina

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

taurina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

184

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Connochetes Gorgon

J. E. Gray, 1852

Family

Bovidae

Root name

gorgon

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

121

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12956534

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

Gray (1852:121, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12956534) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35535)

Connochaetes albojubatus

Matschie, 1895

Family

Bovidae

Root name

albojubatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

113

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835506

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

  1. Matschie (1895:113, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835506) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)
  2. Roberts (1913:105, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439563) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:664) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)
  4. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)
  5. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:unnumbered) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #400000554) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)

Connochaetes taurinus

Matschie, 1895

Family

Bovidae

Root name

taurinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

113

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835506

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

  1. Matschie (1895:113, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835506) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)
  2. Lydekker (1908:134, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741354) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  3. Allen (1909:155) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16003)
  4. Ward (1910:152, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15015795) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  5. Roberts (1913:105, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439563) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)
  6. Wurster & Benirschke (1968:154) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67242)
  7. Corbet & Hill (1980:124) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  8. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:333) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  9. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  10. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:663) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)
  11. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)
  12. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #5229) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  13. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #5229) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  14. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006134) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  15. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5229/163322525) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Connochætes taurinus hecki

Lydekker, 1908

Family

Bovidae

Root name

hecki

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

136

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741356

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:136, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741356) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi

Grubb, 2005

Family

Bovidae

Root name

mearnsi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Connochaetes taurinus taurinus

Grubb, 2005

Family

Bovidae

Root name

taurinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Connochaetes johnstoni

D. E. Wilson & Mittermeier, 2011

Family

Bovidae

Root name

johnstoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

664

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

  1. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:664) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)
  3. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:unnumbered) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  4. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #400000555) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)

Connochaetes mearnsi

D. E. Wilson & Mittermeier, 2011

Family

Bovidae

Root name

mearnsi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

664

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

  1. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:664) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:218) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)
  3. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:unnumbered) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  4. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #400000556) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)

Catoblepas gorgon

(C. H. Smith, 1827)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

gorgon

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

371

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33264504

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Gray (1846:232, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2319569) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/20141)
  2. Gray (1850:20, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47595044) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39734)
  3. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Butragus corniculatus

(J. E. Gray, 1872)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

corniculatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notusedas_valid

Authority page

43

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8707787

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

  1. Gray (1872:43, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8707787) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38721)
  2. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Gorgon fasciatus

(J. E. Gray, 1872)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

fasciatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

43

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8707787

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

  1. Gray (1872:43, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8707787) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38721)
  2. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Catoblepas reichei

(Noack, 1893)

Family

Bovidae

Root name

reichei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

154

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30145751

Authority publication

Zoologischer Anzeiger

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochætes prognu

A. Pomel, 1894

Family

Bovidae

Root name

prognu

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

9

Authority publication

Algiers

Connochaetes hecki

O. R. Neumann, 1905

Family

Bovidae

Root name

hecki

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

96

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7897173

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochaetes taurinus rufigianus

Lydekker & Blaine, 1914

Family

Bovidae

Root name

rufigianus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

57

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9394855

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Connochaetes taurinus Borlei

Monard, 1933

Family

Bovidae

Root name

borlei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

64

Authority publication

Bulletin de la Société neuchâteloise des sciences naturelles

Name usages

  1. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  2. Groves & Grubb (2011:217) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)

Connochaetes taurinus major

Dietrich, 1950

Family

Bovidae

Root name

major

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

Palaeontographica

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