The+Blue+Antelope+(Extinct+Animal)




 * The Greater Kudu(Mondern Animal) >>> **

__** Extinct Animal **** The Bluebuck Antelope/Blue Antelope **__ The Bluebuck antelope (//Hippotragus leucophaeus //is) the first Biggest African Mammal to disappear from the face of earth. After the Ice Age around 10000 years ago, they were still common in far south Africa where there were grassy plains, but because of climate change around 2000-3200 years ago, majority of grasslands turned into bushes and forest, affecting the Bluebucks adaptations towards the environment. They were recorded to be extinct around the 1800s, and the Europeans were the first known to come in contact with this Antelope, which was in the 17th century. However the numbers of living Bluebuck Antelopes at that time was not high, despite their living numbers the settlers continued to hunt these creatures, not because of it’s disgusting flesh but for changing their habitat into agriculture use such as for farming. The Bluebuck has a total length of 250-300cm(males), 230-280cm(females), their shoulder height at 100-120cm long, skull length 396mm long, horn length 50-61cm long finally weighing at around 160kg. Their body structure is similar to the Greater Kudu however their weight is slightly lighter than its modern animal.


 * Kingdom: || Animalia ||
 * Phylum: || Chordata ||
 * Class: || Mammalia ||
 * Order: || Artiodactyla ||
 * Family: || Bovidae ||
 * Subfamily: || Hippotraginae ||
 * Genus: || // Hippotragus // ||
 * Species: || **// H. leucophaeus //** ||

__**Habitiat/Diet**__ The Bluebuck antelope is similar to the Greater Kudu, they are both found in Southern Africa, however the habitat range of the Bluebuck is much smaller than the Greater Kudu. While the Europeans settled in the Cape Province, they were found in the southwest of the Cape Province around coastal regions. They were inhabitants to grasslands, where the land was quite muddy and high levels of grass ranging from(0.5metres-1.5metres) or around hillside areas, where climate is usually from 14-26degrees Celsius during summer(December to February), while during winter it will be 7-20degrees Celsius(June to August). Their habitats were around 2400m above sea level however they required water to survive unlike the Greater Kudu as they could survive a few days without water, resulting them to live in areas where water was in short distance. In the cape land region their habitat only ranged 4000km wide, since they were already not common once they were discovered, usually found in the plains of Bredasdrop, Swellendam and Caledon. In these areas their neighbor animals were, herds of elephants, the extinct Long horn buffaloes, zebras etc however the main predators were Giant Hyenas (Pachycrocuta), leopards, wild dogs and lions, their main predators were still similar to the Greater Kudu.The Bluebuck were picky herbivores, only eating high quality red grass, spear grass, perennial tuft grass, buffalo grass and love grass.



__**Structural Adaptations**__ 1.A structural adaptation of The Bluebuck was their teeth. They consists of six teeth, both along the upper and lower jaws, forming a distinctive sequence of three pre molar teeth; followed by three molars. However, other than the premolars and the molars, there were also a front group of teeth which were the incisors. Both these sections of teeth are really important adaptations, as it helps the bluebuck survive throughout its life. Firstly the first section of teeth the incisors, collect and tear its food then sends it towards the second section of teeth the molars and pre molars, which is used to grind and crush the remaining food. Since the Bluebucks were herbivores, their food source were mainly plants; by having these sections of teeth, it helps it break down the food making it easier to digest. Without these teeth, this specie might starve to death.
 * Environmental Pressure:** As the climate changes throughout time, the texture of the grass might have changed by becoming harder. In order for the Bluebucks to eat these plants, they will have to develop; therefore forming distinct tools like their incisors, molar and pre molars through many decades, making it easier for these antelopes to break down the plants and digesting it easier.

2.The horns of the Bluebuck is also a structural adaptation, their horns are different from the Greater Kudu. Their horns are in a long curved shape at approximately 50-61 centimeters (20-24inches), consisting of 20-35 rings on their horns. Both male and female will grow horns, unlike the Geater Kudus where only males will have horns. The Greater Kudu had horns at about 120 centimeters, which are in a spiraled shape almost twice the size of this extinct antelope. These horns are important adaptations, helping them survive and adapt to their habitat. By growing horns like these, it helps Blue Antelopes prove dominance against one another, also it aims to impress the opposite sex, by sometimes sparring each other like The Greater Kudus. However, when they are attacked by predators, they do not use their horns and attack straight away; instead, they will try to flee, if they fail and end up on the ground, they will defend themselves by swinging their horns towards their opponent, hoping to injured their opponent in order to make them go away.
 * Environmental Pressure**: The reason why the Bluebucks have developed horns throughout the years, because without horns, there is no way they can spar to prove their dominance other than size wise. Therefore, without horns, there will be no leader of the group, and with an attacked Bluebuck on the ground, they will have no second chance for survival since they won’t have their horns to protect themselves by stabbing their opponent.

3.The fur of the Bluebuck was short, and its color was blue with a tint of grey. While their stomach was white, and the top of its head was a dark brown in color, with white patches of fur in the eye area. By having the short fur, it provides them with insulation; so during the summer, it prevents the Bluebuck from burning during the summer by giving it protection from the sun, also by having light colours like blue and grey as it’s coating color, it absorbs less heat from the sun allowing the Bluebuck to have an appropriate body temperature, similarly, it helps them stay warm during the winter.
 * Environmental Pressure**: The reason why Bluebucks are adapted in this particular way, might be due to the climate change as a result the temperature has increased during the years since the ice age. In order to survive in the new climate, the bluebuck had to adapt to its environment by developing it’s short fur with light colors.

__**Behavioral Adaptations**__

1.Just like the Greater Kudu, the males like to prove dominance towards other Bluebucks, this is evident when Bluebucks stand away and alone from its herd. By standing in an upright manner, this conveys the attempt of the Bull revealing its high status, in a way, it can be seen as self advertising its best features. If a bull approaches its herd, the dominant bull will do the similar thing by standing in an upright manner, with its neck straight and head high with its ears are turned sideways. By being the most dominant bull, it will most likely have higher mating rights.
 * Environmental Pressure**: An environmental pressure which allows male in proving dominance may be due to prehistoric times where there were big animals, and the biggest animals in their group were mostly the leaders. Consequently, the Bluebuck had quickly learned this fact by observing other animals, as a result, making this one of their adaptations, by looking the biggest and strongest and therefore being the leader.



2.The Bluebuck Antelopes form herds just like the Greater Kudu, the herds consists of the territorial Bluebucks(bulls), herds of female bluebucks(cows), calves and the bachelor group. These bachelor groups tend to stay away from the territorial group to prevent conflict between both bulls. Groups normally consists of 5 to 20 individuals, however, groups of 35 to 80 can also be seen. Cows and territorial bulls often share the same home at approximately 4km², being inhabitant of that area for about 30 years. Group number tends to change daily or seasonally while they split into small groups in the wet season, and form large groups in the dry season. There were also groups of younger calves which lagged behind the herd which may slow them down. By forming groups like the giraffes, the chance of a bluebuck getting attacked and killed will lessen, furthermore, there will also be more eyes spotting any predators around the area keeping each other safe, and finally, the chance of them finding food will increase.
 * Environmental Pressure:** The environmental pressure which might cause this adaptation may be a result from the prehistoric time. The bluebucks were used to roaming the lands by themselves, but they were killed easily by predators and hunters. By learning from these experiences, they formed groups like other animals which lowered the chance in getting killed.

__**Diagram of the Bluebuck**__



__**Selection Pressure**__ Throughout their years of survival their diet has never changed, however the climate has changed, maybe altering the texture and the quality of plants and leaves. This might cause the Bluebuck to eat less, since it is not the same as before. The less they eat the less strength and energy they have to flee and defend themselves from predators, causing the chance of their survival to lower.
 * Reasons to extinction**
 * 1.Diet**

As the Europeans settlers (The Cape Colony), arrived in the South African region, they discovered these creatures. The Bluebucks were already uncommon at that time, however the Europeans Settlers might have hunted them for their amazing looking horns for either money, or as decoration, by doing so it ending up killing the remaining herds of Blue Antelopes, leading them to extinction.
 * 2.Hunters (The Humans)**

Once the European settlers arrived, they could have brought some sort of diseases with them, some animals might be immune to their diseases some aren’t, resulting for some animals to catch this disease, The Bluebucks could be one of the animals that does catches it. They possibly could not adapt to this disease quick enough, leaving countless Bluebucks to die off, leading to extinction.
 * 3.Human Virus**

=Bibliography= //Blue Antelope Correspondences//. (N/A, N/A N/A). Retrieved June 22, 2011, from Bluebuck: http://www.blueantelope.info/

Strauss, B. (2011, N/A N/A). //About.com//. Retrieved June 23, 2011, from Bluebuck: http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/mesozoicmammals/p/Bluebuck.htm

//Wikipedia//. (2011, April 9). Retrieved June 22, 2011, from The Bluebuck: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluebuck

//HubPages//. (N/A, N/A N/A). Retrieved June 24, 2011, from Still More Kinds of Antelopes: http://hubpages.com/hub/Still-More-Kinds-of-Anteleope