A Study of Reproductive Behaviour of Indian Black Buck (Antilope cervicapra) Linn. with Reference to Courtship, Breeding, Fawning and Colouration

Abstract

These species exhibits a high degree of sexual dimorphism; the male is larger than the female, is strikingly coloured in black and white, and sports a magnificent pair of spiralling horns. The black of the male is replaced by an inconspicuous brown in the female. The aggressive behaviour is commonly seen throughout the year. The reproductive behaviour of black buck was recorded during the present study. The mating was primarily observed in the months of March and October. The young ones yellowish fawn in colour. After about three years it begins to turn black. A buck has a brown black coat. The colour usually fades a little during summer but after the rains the velvety texture acquires sheen.

Behavioral Determinants of Mating Success in Blackbuck under Semienclosed Condition: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal

“…Vats and Bhardwaj [25] observed that the strongest individual dominated other members of the group. e encounters happened when one male entered the territory of…”

Differential sex-related winter energetics in free-ranging snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus)

“…For example, males and females often allocate resources differently during the mating and reproductive seasons (e.g., Clutton-Brock 1989;Edelman and Koprowski 2006;Hoffman et al 2008). Indeed, male mammals spend most of their reproductive resources on mating effort and mate attraction (e.g., displays: Vats and Bhardwaj 2009; secondary sexual characteristics: Yamaguchi et al 2004), territoriality (reviewed by Clutton-Brock 1989), and male-male competition and mate defense (e.g., Wirtz 1982). In contrast, most female mammals invest less time and effort in mate selection and instead expend most of their repro-ductive effort in the production and care of offspring (Hoffman et al 2008).…”