Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus cokii) has flexible ear pinnae, not seen in the red hartebeest (Alcelaphus caama)

Perhaps this is just coincidence.

However, I have noticed something odd about the ear pinnae in hartebeests (Alcelaphus).

Several photos of Alcelaphus cokii show flexibility of the ear pinnae, during what is presumably routine flapping of the ears vs insects.

https://www.mindenpictures.com/stock-photo-coke-s-hartebeest-alcelaphus-buselaphus-cokii-male-flapping-ears-kenya-naturephotography-image00536756.html

https://www.mediastorehouse.com/flpa/10520-00095-852-6578839.html#openModal

https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/portrait-of-kongoni-great-rift-valley-rift-valley-royalty-free-image/522209570?phrase=kongoni&adppopup=true

https://www.mindenpictures.com/stock-photo/coke-39s-hartebeest-(alcelaphus-buselaphus)-standing-on-a-mound-masai-mara/search/detailmodal-0_90823870.html

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52561355

https://www.mediastorehouse.com/auscape/photographer-galleries/joe-mcdonald/cokes-hartebeest-alcelaphus-buselaphus-cokii-20120254.html

I have recently examined about 4000 photos of Alcelaphus caama on the Web, and I have yet to find similar evidence of flexibility in that species.

Posted on October 18, 2022 03:57 PM by milewski