Connochaetes gnou photo © Vassil 

The dead-pan ears of a menacing wildebeest

The black wildebeest is unique among African hoofed mammals in having the ear plain brown on both sides in adults. Most hoofed mammals show distinct markings on the ears in intraspecific communication, but the unique shape of the horns in the black wildebeest make this pointless: the ears are either obscured or shaded for much of the time.

Robin and the Honey Badger, 22 March 2016

 Photographs:

Black wildebeest ear colouration

Black wildebeest brown ear colouration

Juvenile black wildebeest ear colouration

Juvenile black wildebeest ear colouration