Auricular extremes in ruminants, part 1

The ear pinna takes diverse forms and functions in ruminants. The aim of this series of Posts is to delight the creative eye and to probe the adaptive concept by illustrating various extremes in this radiation.

This is a search for 'record-holders'.

In some ruminants, the ear pinna is large, in others small. This corresponds only partly to the reliance on hearing in the environment in question; equally important is the minimisation of surface area in icy climates.

Which wild ruminant (excluding camels) has the proportionately largest ear? Which has the smallest?

In some ruminants, the ear pinna is camouflaged, in others it is conspicuously dark/pale, as if to form a flag. And the anterior surface can function differently from the posterior surface in this context.

Which ruminant has the most disguised ear? Which has the showiest ear?

I have chosen the following photos to be as self-explanatory as possible.

Largest ear pinna: Dorcatragus megalotis https://www.facebook.com/AlWabraWildlifePreservation/photos/a.532950100142070.1073741850.240937542676662/532950310142049 and https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/successful-birth-of-endangered-arabian-leopard-cubs-new-beacon-of-hope-in-saudi-arabia.630692/#lg=_xfUid-5-1629268932&slide=0 and https://www.facebook.com/AlWabraWildlifePreservation/photos/a.532950100142070.1073741850.240937542676662/532950446808702 and https://www.biolib.cz/en/image/id373566/ and https://twitter.com/Le_Ann_Fr/status/955536833152192512/photo/1 and http://awwp.alwabra.com/gallery/?cat=0&lang=chinese_gb&paged=16 and https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/antelope_status_somaliland_2015_final.pdf

Smallest ear pinna: Ovis dalli https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-front-view-of-dall-sheep-ovis-dalli-josh-miller-photography.html and https://www.offset.com/search/ovis+dalli and https://www.dreamstime.com/alaska-dall-sheep-ram-stare-down-photographer-image203937441 and https://www.joelsartore.com/wp-content/uploads/stock/ANI005/ANI005-00019.jpg and https://alpinestock.com/photo/45590/Female-dall-sheep-(Ovis-dalli).html and https://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4168-3587 and https://www.alamy.com/dalls-sheep-white-sheep-ovis-dalli-single-female-standing-on-rock-image4418081.html and https://www.barewalls.com/art-print-poster/dall-sheep-lamb-ovis-dalli-dalli-in_bw1183483.html

Most disguised ear pinna: Ovibos moschatus https://www.naturepl.com/stock-photo-musk-ox-ovibos-moschatus-covered-in-snow-wrangel-island-far-eastern-image01473035.html and https://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryl_strahl/23128490636 and https://dmitryarkhipov.com/muskox-polarurals2019 and https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/muskox-close-up-portrait-on-the-tundra-in-autumn-dovrefjell-news-photo/809839890?adppopup=true and https://www.tundraanimals.net/mammals/muskox/ and https://www.babyanimalzoo.com/baby-musk-oxen-they-reek-of-adorable/musk-ox-baby-cute-picture and https://www.dreamstime.com/head-shot-musk-ox-feeding-green-grass-close-up-musk-oxen-looking-camera-image123536193

Showiest ear pinna: Syncerus nanus https://stock.adobe.com/search/images?k=%22forest+buffalo%22&asset_id=437623056 and https://maker-scratchpad-youtube.fandom.com/wiki/African_Forest_Buffalo?file=African_Forest_Buffalo.jpg and https://www.africahunting.com/threads/a-red-forest-buffalo-in-kaffa-province-of-ethiopia.14895/ and https://www.alamy.com/closeup-shot-of-red-forest-buffalo-standing-in-the-zoo-image381627503.html and https://fineartamerica.com/featured/african-forest-buffalo-tony-camacho.html?product=art-print and https://fineartamerica.com/featured/forest-buffalo-syncerus-caffer-nanus-nhpa.html and https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/433613/view/african-forest-buffalo and https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/african-forest-buffalo-gm1171649917-324673332 and (video) https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/90603870-african-forest-buffalo-syncerus-caffer-nanus

The difference in the relative sizes of the ear pinna in the beira vs Dall's sheep is mainly owing to a difference in climates. The ear of Dall's sheep would look even smaller if it were not so furry.

The muskox and African buffaloes (Syncerus) have comparable horns. However, the ear pinna appears above the horns in the former vs below the horns in the latter (Syncerus caffer https://www.shutterstock.com/nb/image-photo/african-cape-buffalo-serengeti-national-park-128105438). It is only in the forest-dwelling species of African buffalo that the ear is showy - and almost absurdly so.

to be continued...

הועלה ב-אוגוסט 18, 2021 03:37 לפנה"צ על ידי milewski