Many photos of the blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) show individuals in which the whitish on the forehead has expanded, connecting to that on the rostrum, a streak of pale pelage has appeared on the cheeks, ultimately connecting the whitish of the rostrum to that of the base of the ear, and pale has also appeared on the orbits (particularly above the eyes), and/or on the crown.
Dreamstimeblesbok, white face
This spreading of the facial bleeze – which I have not seen mentioned in the literature – may possibly be a sign of age (exceeding ten years). This is indicated by the fact that many of the photos concerned are of captive specimens.
The ultimate result is seen in the following:
Most of the photos below refer to females, but males also show this pattern, e.g.:
Flickrholtphoto
We now know of at least three aspects of the colouration of the blesbok that show particular depigmentation, compared to the bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus), viz. horns in males, the distal part of the tail-tassel in both sexes, and the facial bleeze (in full maturity).
Related postA previously overlooked difference between the blesbok and the bontebok
The pattern on the cheeks, described here, occurs also in the bontebok. However, it is faint and uncommon in that subspecies:
Dreamstimeherd, dried grass·standing in grass, Pilsen·lying in grass
Flickrholtphoto
Getty Imageslonely African blesbok antelope
Shutterstocklying down·standing in grass·group·portrait 1·portrait 2·grazing
SuperstockMlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
iStockMlilwane, male 1·Mlilwane, male 2
euro-t-guide.comRee Park, Ebeltoft
Depositphotosblesbok / blesbuck
dewetswild.comblesbok
Dreamstimeclose-up, eating (1)·close-up (2)
The author draws attention to the extremely long horns, indicating advanced age, of the central figure in this observation:
Also see:
Related postsAdaptive colouration in the blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi)·The overlooked complexity of facial markings in genus Damaliscus
For an index to the author’s many posts about the genus Damaliscus, please see:
IndexAn index to my posts on genus Damaliscus
The following adult male individual, which is territorial judging from the glandular staining on the facial bleeze, seems to show the beginning of an expansion of pale on the sides of the face:
Dreamstimeblesbok antelopes, isolated
Farmer’s WeeklyA promising new colour variant for game farmers
eSwatini Nature Reserves2016 Mammal Red List: Blesbok
ResearchGateBlesbok / Bontebok
Conservation Genetics Resourcesarticle
Ecology and Evolutionarticle
stock.adobe.comimage 86951676·image 253060373·image 252055716·image 163745630·image 262944266·image 221411745
Extension of whitish on to the forehead:
stock.adobe.comimage 547249274
zooinstitutes.comblesbok
The following is possibly the clearest illustration I have ever seen of multi-facetted extension of the facial bleeze in adult males of the blesbok:
dewetswild.comblesbok