Clearest illustrations of a syndrome of adaptive conspicuousness and self-advertisement in gregarious ‘plains game’

by | Aug 7, 2026 | Bio-mullings

By Antoni V Milewski and Anthony J Mills · Originally published 22 June 2026

About this edition. This is Antoni Milewski’s post, republished with his permission. Only the photographs he chose are used. Those on iNaturalist under a Creative Commons licence are shown; the rest are hosted externally and are given as links. No images have been substituted. Read the original on iNaturalist.
Damaliscus pygargus pygargus, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point Rd, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa, by rmmellor
MickCape of Good Hope, Cape Point Rd, Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa · 4 Nov 2008CC BY-NCobs. 295415459

Damaliscus jimela and Eudorcas thomsoni nasalis:

Also cited on iNaturalistobs. 123165061

Damaliscus lunatus jimela, Mara, Kenia, by tiracantos
César María Aguilar GómezMara, Kenia · 18 Aug 2021CC BY-NCobs. 121417560

Citedgettyimages.co.uk

Citedgettyimages.co.uk

Citedgettyimages.co.uk

Posted on June 22, 2026 08:05 PM by
milewski

Addenda from the thread of comments

The author added the following in comments beneath the original post.

CitedRelated post

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The following show how the ventral, white panel of the lateral bleeze divulges heavy pregnancy in the bontebok:

Citedgettyimages.com.au

Also cited on iNaturalistobs. 97905171

CitedDreamstime

CitedAlamy

Citedphoto12.com

Cervus elaphus (showing seasonal ischiopygal flagg) and Cervus nippon (showing seasonal ischial bleeze):

Citedwildnewforest.co.uk

CitedRelated post

Damaliscus lunatus jimela, Narok, Narok, KE, by roque35121
Roque VargasNarok, Narok, KE · 29 Mar 2024CC BY-NCobs. 348965425

Credits. Photographs reproduced from iNaturalist are shown under the Creative Commons licence stated in each caption and remain the copyright of the observers named. All other images cited by the author are hosted externally and are linked, not reproduced.

By Antoni V Milewski and Anthony J Mills. Text by Antoni V Milewski, posted on iNaturalist 22 June 2026 and republished here with permission. Read the original.