Connochætes gnu, Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Afr. p. 288 (1889)?
Connochaætes taurinus albojubatus, Thos. Ann. Mag. N. H. (6) ix. p. 388 (1892); Ward, Horn Meas. p. 75, fig. (head and skull) (1892).
Connochætes taurina, Lugard, E. Afr. i. p. 540, pl. p. 530 (animal) (1893).
Similar in size and coloration to C. taurinus, except that the general tone is paler, especially on the cheeks and rump, and the throat-mane instead of being black is of a dirty yellowish-white colour. A few whitish hairs are also intermixed with the black of the dorsal mane.
The skull is shorter and broader than in C. taurinus, especially in the region of the muzzle, and the horns are placed further back on the head, so that the palm surpasses the back of the skull posteriorly by nearly half its breadth. The palm is also more tipped up behind away from the skull, and is much knobbier, on which account the hinder edge of the horns forms a more serpentine curve.
The dimensions of the typical skull are as follows:—basal length 16 inches, greatest breadth 7·6, muzzle to eye 12·1.
Hab. East Africa, Athi plains, Ukambani, north of Kilimanjaro, and west side of Victoria Nyanza.
As we have already stated, this form, although otherwise agreeing in nearly every point with the Brindled Gnu, is readily distinguishable by its white mane, white jaw-tufts, and the generally paler colour. But whether we ought to classify it as a separate species, or as a subspecies, or only as a variety of the Brindled Gnu future researches only can decide. We know as yet too little of its exact range and mode of occurrence to be able to settle this question, nor is there a sufficient series of specimens available. If it should be found hereafter that beyond a certain boundary in Eastern Africa all the Gnus met with are of the White-bearded form, and that along this line of junction there are transitional forms between this and the ordinary Brindled Gnu, we should do well to allow it merely subspecific rank. If, on the other hand, it shall be found that the White-bearded Gnu occurs side by side with the Brindled Gnu without mixing or interbreeding with that animal, we shall have to count it as a full species.
Fig. 14.