How is the visual coloration of the Blue Wildebeest (*C. taurinus*) described in contrast to its counterpart?
Answer
A silvery-blue or grey sheen with distinct black vertical stripes
The Blue Wildebeest exhibits a striking coloration that distinguishes it from the darker Black Wildebeest. Its body typically displays a grey-blue or silvery sheen, and it is further characterized by pronounced black vertical stripes located prominently on its neck and shoulders. This pattern gives rise to its common regional name, the 'brindled gnu.' This striping may have offered camouflage advantages within the complex light and shadow patterns found in the mixed savanna habitats it often occupies, particularly in contrast to the more uniformly dark Black Wildebeest.
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