A previously overlooked difference between the blesbok and the bontebok: pale vs dark tail-tassel

@michalsloviak @geichhorn @colin25 @tandala @dewald2 @simontonge @tonyrebelo @jeremygilmore

The blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) differs from the bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) in having a pale distal section to the tail-tassel (https://www.alamy.com/blesbok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-an-antelope-endemic-to-south-africa-and-swaziland-grazing-in-grassland-image344938371.html).

This difference has not, as far as I know, been noticed by any naturalist or zoologist.

The tail-tassel of both subspecies of Damaliscus pygargus, when intact, reaches to below the hock.

In the bontebok, the whole tail-tassel is always dark (https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-bontebok-antelope-image14126791 and https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-bontebok-antelope-image4517985 and https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-bontebok-antelope-image20532746 and https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=damaliscus&asset_id=22456309).

However, in the blesbok, the distal part of the tail-tassel tends to be pale:

https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/photo/blesbok-antelopes-in-heat-royalty-free-image/547464562?adppopup=true

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=6&search_type=pagination&get_facets=0&asset_id=173071849

https://stock.adobe.com/search/images?k=blesbok&asset_id=362706450

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=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Atemplate%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3A3d%5D=1&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=damaliscus&order=relevance&safe_search=1&limit=100&search_page=3&search_type=pagination&get_facets=0&asset_id=367831616

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/blesbok-antelopes-gm540404998-96485023?phrase=pics%20of%20a%20blesbok

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/blesbok-male-gm542722138-97225053?phrase=pics%20of%20a%20blesbok

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85602201

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=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3Atemplate%5D=1&filters%5Bcontent_type%3A3d%5D=1&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=damaliscus&order=relevance&safe_search=1&limit=100&search_page=2&get_facets=0&search_type=pagination&asset_id=367831595

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40397227

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42150508

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42016467

https://www.dreamstime.com/blesbok-bontebok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-image196849627

https://www.dreamstime.com/blesbok-bontebok-damaliscus-pygargus-phillipsi-image196849628

Second photo in https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10850618

https://dewetswild.com/2016/06/23/blesbok/#jp-carousel-52479

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19454092

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17275768

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16062788

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132538840

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104362803

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98375710

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-blesbok-bull-antelope-standing-veld-image85276090

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Damaliscus_pygargus_phillipsi.jpg

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Dung_midden#Media/File:Blesbok_(Damaliscus_pygargus_phillipsi)_(32413640451).jpg

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#.

Posted on 01 March, 2023 01:40 by milewski