Wildebeests, like many other inhabitants of Africa, are forced to regularly undertake long journeys in search of water and food. Some herds of wildebeests can cover up to 1900 km in a single trip in search of new pastures.
It was previously believed that wildebeests must frequently stop at water bodies during such long journeys, especially considering that they move through the hot African climate. However, recent studies have shown that wildebeests can go without water for a whole five days in a row.
In a recent publication in the journal Nature, researchers from University College London and their African colleagues report that this endurance of wildebeests is due to their muscles, which function significantly more efficiently than those of other animals. As is known, any muscular activity requires chemical fuel: muscle cells use special high-energy molecules for contraction. Typically, only about 25% of this energy is used for work, while the rest is lost as heat. However, wildebeests use energy much more rationally: they spend a full 62.6% on useful work.
Interestingly, the only animals that can boast more efficient muscles are turtles (referring to those species that have been specifically studied). Since the muscles of wildebeests produce less heat, they do not overheat during migrations and, therefore, require less water for cooling — which is why they drink less often.
