habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Red Hartebeest prefer open habitat and mainly occur in grasslands of various types (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). More tolerant of woodland areas and high grass than other alcelaphines, Hartebeest prefer the edge to the middle of open plains (Gosling & Capellini 2013). They thus appear to be an edge or ecotone species (Booth 1985), generally avoiding more closed woodland, and sometimes they occupy high-lying areas that are avoided by most other larger grazers (J. Eksteen unpubl. data). They occur on floodplain grassland, vleis, semi-desert savannah and open woodland (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).
Red Hartebeest are considered to be predominantly selective grazers that will make use of browse under limited resource conditions (Murray & Brown 1993). They feed selectively in medium-height grassland; they are less water-dependent than other alcelaphines, but nonetheless dependent on the availability of surface drinking water (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2016). In areas with much moribund vegetation, the Red Hartebeest faces particular constraints because nearly all vegetation biomass is of low quality, which reduces food intake rates (Drescher et al. 2006a, 2006b; van Langevelde et al. 2008). Under these conditions grassland fire plays an important role in providing suitable grazing conditions for this species (Venter et al. 2014). Additionally, the hartebeest skull morphology is specially adapted to be very selective at times when good forage is scarce (Schuette et al. 1998). They are gregarious, occurring in herds of up to 20 but can occur in much larger herds (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Among the various hartebeest subspecies, a positive correlation between mean body size and rainfall suggests that habitat productivity may drive morphological evolution between ecotypes (Capellini & Gosling 2007).
Ecosystem and cultural services: In Bushman folklore the hartebeest and the Eland (Taurotragus oryx) have magical power. A woman who has a young child does not eat the hartebeest. The head and hide of a Hartebeest were sometimes worn over menâs shoulders when hunting large animals like African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) or Eland. Whilst advancing towards their quarry through the grass, they would carefully mimic the actions of the hartebeest.
