At first glance, the most remarkable aspect of the colouration of the blesbok/bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus) is the whitish rostrum, which constitutes a facial bleeze.
The bold, pale feature on the face of this species is extreme among all of the ungulates. This is because
However, on closer scrutiny, what may be more remarkable is that D. pygargus features three different patterns of colouration within each individual - following each other from birth to adulthood.
Another way of putting this is that infants, juveniles, and adults of D. pygargus have such different colouration that they are like three different species in one.
The main aim of this Post is to illustrate this 'triplex' colouration by means of a few, carefully selected photos.
CRYPTIC COLOURATION
Within D. pygargus, something approaching a classic example of cryptic colouration occurs: plain fawn with countershading.
This occurs from birth to three months old, after which it changes abruptly. Thus, the 'infantile' colouration lasts until weaning begins.
The cryptic 'infantile' pattern makes little sense adaptively, because there is no rationale for inconspicuousness in this species, even in infants.
Blesbok infants https://www.robertharding.com/preview/741-3687/blesbok-damaliscus-dorcas-kariega-game-reserve-south-africa/ and https://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2018/08/meet-betty-bantu-belfasts-blesbok-calf.html
Bontebok infants https://www.shutterstock.com/it/image-photo/cute-baby-bontebok-antelope-calf-looks-744728965
DARK FACE CONTRASTING WITH PALE CHEEKS
For the next three months, when the freshly-weaned juveniles weigh about half as much as their mothers, the pattern on the face differs from those of both infants and adults. This facial pattern is
Supporting the interpretation that this constitutes a frontal display is the fact that the upper forelegs darken, precocially, at this stage.
The frontal conspicuousness of juveniles makes little sense adaptively. This is because there is no rationale for adults and accompanying juveniles achieving such conspicuousness in different ways.
Blesbok juveniles https://www.alamy.com/juvenile-blesbok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-mountain-zebra-national-image65490812.html?imageid=E925F6B0-7DB8-4381-90A4-A1DB36C2A783&p=94604&pn=1&searchId=34a5985d254a7cecee5d7188055b6b4c&searchtype=0 and https://www.alamy.com/juvenile-blesbok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-mountain-zebra-national-image65490807.html?imageid=B8EA5253-B43F-41C0-8B90-B1BD0FE8E257&p=94604&pn=1&searchId=34a5985d254a7cecee5d7188055b6b4c&searchtype=0https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/photo/blesbok-antelope-royalty-free-image/95006564?adppopup=true
CONSPICUOUSLY PALE FACE
Gradually and with individual variation, the rostrum turns from dark to pale, and the cheeks turn from pale to dark. The pale tends to creep upwards from the nose towards the eyes.
The conspicuous colouration of adults of D. pygargus makes sense, in principle. This is because gregarious, cursorial ungulates of open environments have nowhere to hide from predators, and have much to gain from social cohesion. However...
Blesbok adult https://stock.adobe.com/search/images?filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aphoto%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aillustration%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Azip_vector%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Avideo%5D=0&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Atemplate%5D=0&filters%5Bcontent_type%3A3d%5D=0&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aaudio%5D=0&filters%5Binclude_stock_enterprise%5D=0&filters%5Bis_editorial%5D=0&filters%5Bfree_collection%5D=0&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Aimage%5D=1&k=blesbok&order=relevance&price%5B%24%5D=1&safe_search=1&limit=100&search_page=3&search_type=pagination&get_facets=0&asset_id=495936526 and https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/blesbok-antelope-gm144341776-4192140?phrase=pics%20of%20a%20blesbok
DISCUSSION
The 'triplexity' of colouration in D. pygargus remains to be explained, in adaptive terms.
Also remaining unexplained, in D. pygargus, are why
Also see:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/76599-the-mystery-of-the-adaptive-value-of-cryptic-colouration-for-the-first-three-months-of-life-in-the-bontebok#
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/76550-a-concise-photo-guide-to-the-differences-some-previously-overlooked-between-blesbok-and-bontebok#
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/75748-adaptive-colouration-in-the-blesbok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-part-1-adults#
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/75995-adaptive-colouration-in-the-blesbok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-part-2-infants-juveniles-and-adolescents#
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/76311-adaptive-colouration-in-the-bontebok-damaliscus-pygargus-pygargus-part-1-adults#
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/76336-adaptive-colouration-in-the-bontebok-damaliscus-pygargus-pygargus-part-2-infants-juveniles-and-adolescents#
For an index to my many Posts about the genus Damaliscus, please see https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/78238-an-index-to-my-posts-on-genus-damaliscus#.
Comentarios
https://onlyin.africa/2017/04/30/bontebok-national-park/
https://overbergrenosterveld.org.za/historical-mammal-renosterveld/
https://nuwejaars.com/2020-bad-for-humans-great-for-our-animal-kingdom/
https://tracks4africa.co.za/listings/item/w136341/bontebok-national-park/
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OtWe8tyt9H0/UxlG8AN_ziI/AAAAAAAAGSg/92q1cBisJUk/s1600/Blesbok-Animals-Hunting.jpg
http://wildlife-photographs.blogspot.com/2014/03/Blesbok-Animals-Facts.html
http://www.natureeyes.dk/fotoarkiv_click2.asp?Id=27661
https://balades-naturalistes.fr/west-coast-national-park/
Here are two remarkable illustrations of the blesbok:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152116379
https://www.alamy.com/bontebok-damaliscus-pygargus-pygargus-young-bontebok-national-park-south-africa-image417606728.html?imageid=EF82F891-0603-484F-BD9E-93ECCC9BBB91&p=12455&pn=1&searchId=9413d8974b8e82b9ea846d632ed5adfc&searchtype=0
Furstenburg and Currie (2019), on Damaliscus pygargus pygargus:
https://www.hrpub.org/download/20191230/EER2-14014302.pdf
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