In previous Posts, I have shown that certain species of Cervidae are sexually dimorphic in the colouration of their ears.
More particularly, mature males tend to lack certain conspicuously pale markings at/near the bases of the ear pinnae (https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/69281-intriguing-new-sexual-dimorphism-in-the-wapiti#).
I have hypothesised that the loss of the markings in question, as males grow from juveniles to adults, may be related to the presence of antlers in males only. The showiness of these head-adornments theoretically eclipses any intraspecific communication via the swivelling movements of the ear pinnae.
Some semblance of this kind of sexual dimorphism may also occur in a few Bovidae. I refer particularly to Kobus kob (https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/91107-adaptive-colouration-in-the-puku-kobus-vardoni-an-anomalously-plain-coloured-grazer-part-1#), which resembles cervids in that horns are restricted to males.
While scrolling through thousands of photos of the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), I have come to suspect that the colouration of the ear pinnae of this member of the Antilocapridae is sexually dimorphic.
In this case it is dark, not pale, markings that differ. The tips and margins of the ear pinnae tend
The sexual dimorphism of the head adornments in the pronghorn is limited, because
Furthermore, in the pronghorn the ear pinnae have a peculiar shape, suggesting a subtle 'mimicry' of horns. The tips are pointed and turned somewhat medially, which gives an impression of 'bracketing' the horns, in a way (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208917977).
In cervids sympatric with the pronghorn, the anterior surface of the ear pinnae is conspicuously dark-edged in winter pelage. It is possible that a similar seasonal pattern applies to the pronghorn.
With the above in mind, I scrutinised the Web for illustrations of this sexual difference. The results are inconclusive, as follows.
Adult females and juveniles:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2023/05/23/pronghorn-doe-portrait/
https://www.tmurphywild.com/product/pronghorn-antelope-juvenile-head/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomblandford/53083685549
https://www.reddit.com/r/wildlifephotography/comments/19180dc/pronghorn_antelope_near_agate_utah/
https://pbase.com/clinton62/image/147356192
https://www.facebook.com/USFWS/photos/a.419357095774/10159745741580775/?type=3
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/wild-pronghorn-antelope-doe-south-dakota-2421372029
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/antelope-close-bedded-down-meadow-30517435
https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/young-pronghorn-antelope/AAM-AAES61669
https://roadsendnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/pronghorn-face.jpg
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/deer-with-a-grass-straw-gm629027374-111821203
Adult males:
https://mjspringett.com/2013/05/24/pronghorn-2/pronghorn-2/
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/pronghorn-6378-ron-dudley.jpg
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/pronghorn-face-gm147091243-7521697
https://www.masterfile.com/image/en/841-06806323/pronghorn-antilocapra-americana-buck-custer-state
https://psmag.com/environment/fracking-away-the-wildlife-44012
https://bestpaintbynumbers.shop/products/close-up-pronghorn-paint-by-numbers/
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/pronghorn-antelope-sagebrush-meadow-buck-male-1577197222
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/pronghorn-antelope-buck-feeding-on-sagebrush-1872295927
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/pronghorn-antelope-morning-495783544
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/pronghorn-deer-in-montana-gm1189769147-336992051
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/horned-and-handsome-gm1086413868-291496309
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/pronghorn-antelope-buck-gm474778752-64903423
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/pronghorn-gm629792922-112192655
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/a-stoic-pronghorn-gm833598046-135570567
https://www.onthewingphotography.com/wings/2017/06/22/buck-pronghorn-close-up-on-antelope-island/
Comments
https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/antelope
https://network.land.com/sport/hunting/guide-to-hunting-pronghorns/
https://southernarizonaguide.com/saving-rare-sonoran-pronghorn/
Semi cross-walking
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/male-pronghorn-antelope-walks-grassy-prairie-2217065653
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/pronghorn-antelope-royalty-free-image/1993371584?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/pronghorn-antelope-western-montana-royalty-free-image/1833236318?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/pronghorn-antelope-buck-royalty-free-image/998134182?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/young-pronghorn-scientific-name-antilocapra-americana-1926243335
Cross-walking
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/two-prairie-antelopes-captured-walking-desert-1778876951
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/pronghorn-antelope-in-yellowstone-national-park-usa-news-photo/1265241709?adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/pronghorn-antelope-in-river-royalty-free-image/146599163?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
Ambling
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/large-pronghorn-deer-grazes-on-prairie-1526720906
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/pronghorn-native-interior-western-north-america-8316325
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/pronghorn-antelope-western-montana-royalty-free-image/1833243594?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/pronghorn-antelope-yellowstone-national-park-royalty-free-image/1833242029?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/herd-of-pronghorn-antelope-blending-in-with-their-royalty-free-image/670999474?phrase=pronghorn+antelope&adppopup=true
https://www.onthewingphotography.com/wings/2014/11/05/autumn-pronghorn-portraits/
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/pronghorns-on-range-1011162904
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-photo/pronghorn-antelope-pair-standing-prairie-custer-20594944
https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2023-01-30/authorities-in-kazakhstan-want-to-domesticate-saiga-antelopes/
https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2024-02-12/ministry-of-ecology-halts-cull-of-saiga-antelope-in-kazakhstan/
https://roadsendnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/pronghorn-rump-calm.jpg
https://roadsendnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/pronghorn-rump-calm.jpg
https://roadsendnaturalist.com/tag/pronghorn/
https://wildernesswalks.net/snapshots-nature-up-close/pronghorn/
https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/pronghorn/characteristics
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