The whispering neck of the aardwolf
Proteles cristatus photo © Dominik Käuferle
Proteles cristatus photo © Greg Hume
The camouflage colouration of the aardwolf has an unexplained incongruity on and next to its neck: there are no stripes from the side of the head to a prominent oblique stripe on the shoulder. Although hardly conspicuous to human eyes, this pale fur on the side of the neck may reflect ultraviolet light as a social display at dusk.
Robin and the Honey Badger, 22 March 2016
Photographs
Proteles cristatus neck colouration
Proteles cristatus neck colouration
Proteles cristatus neck colouration
Proteles cristatus neck colouration
Proteles cristatus neck colouration
Proteles cristatus neck colouration
