Abbott's Duiker

Abbott's Duiker
Abbott's Duiker
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Cephalophinae
Genus: Cephalophus
Species: C. spadix
Binomial name
Cephalophus spadix
True, 1890

Abbott's Duiker (Cephalophus spadix also known as Minde in Swahili) is a large forest dwelling Duiker (small antelope) found only in a couple of scattered enclaves in Tanzania. It is believed by some to be a subspecies of the Yellow-backed Duiker. It is very rare and the first photograph was taken as recently as 2003.

Characteristics

Abbott's Duikers stand around 65 cm (26 in) tall at the shoulder and weigh approximately 55 kg (120 lb). Abbott's Duikers have a glossy, dark brown coat which is lighter on the underside. The face is paler and gray in color, and there is a large red tuft on the forehead. Abbott's Duiker have short thin horns of 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in).

Habitat

Abbott's Duiker is endemic to Tanzania, occur in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Mount Kilimanjo, and South Highlands in scattered populations. They live in mainly in wet forests and swamps at between 1,700 and 2,700 metres above sea level, but can sometimes wander to much higher altitudes at 4,000 m. They eat mainly fruit and possibly other plant matter. Abbott's Duiker are nocturnal, spending the days at rest in thickets. They form regular pathways through the undergrowth, making them relatively easy to find. If threatened they generally try to run, though they have been known to kill pursuing dogs when left with no escape route.

Status

There are estimated to be less than 1,500 Abbott's Duiker left in the world, and there is no captive population. They are threatened by habitat destruction and hunting[1].

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Moyer, D.C., Jones, T. & Rovero, F. (2008). Cephalophus spadix. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.


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