How does the white rump patch visually distinguish the Defassa Waterbuck from the Common Waterbuck?
Answer
Defassa often has a broken or sometimes entirely absent white ring
The primary visible distinction used to differentiate the two recognized subspecies, the Common Waterbuck (*K. e. ellipsiprymnus*) and the Defassa Waterbuck (*K. e. defassa*), lies in the appearance of their signature white rump marking. For the Common Waterbuck, this marking forms a complete, unbroken elliptical ring around the tail base. Conversely, the Defassa subspecies frequently displays a white ring that is visibly broken, or in some cases, may be entirely absent, leading to significant variation in the visibility of this characteristic feature across individuals in that geographic range.
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