HARTEBEEST

hartebeest, the boer name for a large south african antelope (also known as caama) characterized by its red colour, long face with naked muzzle and sharply angulated lyrate horns, which are present in both sexes. this antelope is the _bubalis cama_ or _alcelaphus cama_ of naturalists; but the name hartebeest has been extended to include all the numerous members of the same genus, some of which are to be found in every part of africa, while one or two extend into syria. some of the species of the allied genus _damaliscus_, such as hunter's antelope (_d. hunteri_), are also often called hartebeests. (see antelope). [illustration: cape hartebeest (_bubalis cama_).]