Bluebuck

The stuffed specimen in the Natural History Museum Vienna

The blue block ( Hippotragus leucophaeus ) was an African antelope from the group of horses goats. Once native to South Africa, it is now extinct completely. Named this animal was after the bluish sheen of his gray fur. In appearance similar to the blue block of the Roan Antelope, but was built some dainty. He also lacked the color markings on the head, which is characteristic of the Roan Antelope.

The distribution area was limited to the coastal region of south-western South Africa. There is no fossil record, suggest that a larger, earlier distribution. In the distribution area of ​​the Blue Bock landed in the 18th century, white settlers, who exterminated the species within a few years through amusement hunts. Overgrazing of its habitat of the Blue Bock stock, however, was shrunk more and more before arrival of the first Europeans.

The last blue block in 1799 or 1800 shot, just 34 years after the first description science. Based on current knowledge of the Blue Bock is the first African mammal species was eradicated by modern humans in historical times. Since the eradication of Blue Bocks happened very quickly, there are few museum specimens. Today, four stuffed specimens are in the Natural History Museums of Stockholm, Paris, Vienna and suffering.

You can find the Blue Bock occasionally listed as a subspecies of Roan Antelope. It is usually performed but as a separate species. Misleading way, the nilgai is run as a Blue Buck in English.