Editing Wildebeest (section)

===Genetics and hybrids===
The diploid number of [[chromosome]]s in the wildebeest is 58.<ref name=skinner>{{cite book|last=Skinner|first=J. D.|title=The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion|year=2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-84418-5|pages=645–8|edition=3rd|author2=Chimimba, C. T.}}</ref> Chromosomes were studied in a male and a female wildebeest. In the female, all except a pair of very large [[submetacentric]] chromosomes were found to be [[acrocentric]]. [[Metaphase]]s were studied in the male's chromosomes, and very large submetacentric chromosomes were found there, as well, similar to those in the female both in size and morphology. Other chromosomes were acrocentric. The [[X chromosome]] is a large acrocentric and the [[Y chromosome]] a minute one.<ref name=groves/><ref name=wallace>{{cite journal|last=Wallace|first=C.|title=Chromosome analysis in the Kruger National Park: The chromosomes of the blue wildebeest ''Connochaetes taurinus''|journal=Koedoe|year=1978|volume=21|issue=1|pages=195–6|doi=10.4102/koedoe.v21i1.974|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The two species of the wildebeest are known to [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridise]]. Male black wildebeest have been reported to mate with female blue wildebeest and vice versa.<ref name=hybrid1>{{cite journal|last=Grobler|first=J. P.|author2=Rushworth, I. |author3=Brink, J. S. |author4=Bloomer, P. |author5=Kotze, A. |author6=Reilly, B. |author7= Vrahimis, S. |title=Management of hybridization in an endemic species: decision making in the face of imperfect information in the case of the black wildebeest—''Connochaetes gnou''|journal=European Journal of Wildlife Research|date=5 August 2011|volume=57|issue=5|pages=997–1006|doi=10.1007/s10344-011-0567-1|issn=1439-0574|hdl=2263/19462|s2cid=23964988|hdl-access=free}}</ref> The differences in social behaviour and habitats have historically prevented interspecific hybridisation between the species, but hybridisation may occur when they are both confined within the same area. The resulting offspring are usually fertile. A study of these hybrid animals at [[Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve]] in South Africa revealed that many had disadvantageous abnormalities relating to their teeth, horns, and the [[wormian bones]] in the skull.<ref name=hybrid2>{{cite journal|last=Ackermann|first=R. R.|author2=Brink, J. S. |author3=Vrahimis, S. |author4= De Klerk, B. |title=Hybrid wildebeest (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) provide further evidence for shared signatures of admixture in mammalian crania|journal=South African Journal of Science|date=29 October 2010 |volume=106 |issue=11/12 |pages=1–4 |doi=10.4102/sajs.v106i11/12.423|doi-access=free |hdl=11427/27315 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> Another study reported an increase in the size of the hybrid as compared to either of its parents. In some animals, the [[tympanic part of the temporal bone]] is highly deformed, and in others, the [[Radius (bone)|radius]] and [[ulna]] are fused.<ref name=hybrid3>{{citation |last=De Klerk|first=B.|title=An osteological documentation of hybrid wildebeest and its bearing on black wildebeest (''Connochaetes gnou'') evolution (Doctoral dissertation)|year=2008}}</ref>