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Sun, 14/01/2007 - 12:08am
Several times I have observed the wildebeest nodding their heads up and down. Is it a signal for the herd to move on?
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~Proud member of the Spotted Hyena, lion and Jackal Lovers Fan Clubs~ ~In Memory of Hamish: 1997-2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Towbe-b9Ht8 ~
Exaggerated head nodding is characteristic in the antelope Tribe Alcelaphini which contains the wildebeest, but more prevelant among the topi, tsessebe, bontebok and blesbok memeber, whereas tail flourishes are conspicuous in wildebeest displays. The other tribe members are the hartebeests.
A secondary reason for the head nodding is as an anti-parasite behaviorism attempting to discourage oestrid flies from laying eggs in their nostrils.
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