ETYM Hottentot gnu, or nju: cf. French gnou.
(Homonym: knew, new, nu).
Large African antelope having a head with horns like an ox and a long tufted tail; SYN. wildebeest.
Or wildebeest; Either of two species of African antelope, genus Connochaetes, with a cowlike face, a beard and mane, and heavy curved horns in both sexes. The body is up to 1.3 m/4.2 ft at the shoulder and slopes away to the hindquarters.
The brindled gnu C. taurinus is silver-gray with dark face, mane, and tail tuft, and occurs from Kenya southward. Vast herds move together on migration. The white-tailed gnu C. gnou of South Africa almost became extinct, but was saved by breeding on farms.

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