Male wildebeest grow distinctive horns, which they use when competing for mates, but scientists are puzzled by the female wildebeest’s horns. They must offer some benefit, because nature is not normally averse to removing unnecessary traits. But so far, there are only theories.
One possible cause is that the gene coding for horns is linked to the gene for another characteristic, one that is beneficial for the female wildebeest. Or the horns may be a way to defend against predators, though wildebeest are rarely observed fighting a predator head on, preferring to outnumber the threat as a herd.
It’s thought that female wildebeest don’t fight one another, but new research has found that horns are identical between males and females of the same size, meaning previous observations of fights between males made from afar might actually have been females. If this is the case, it’s likely the fighting is to establish social dominance.
