Bovidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
text
2011
2011-08-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals
444
779
book chapter
58516
10.5281/zenodo.6512484
67b52095-db4b-43f8-a661-4aced0511111
978-84-96553-77-4
6512484
248.
Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker
Cephalophus curticeps
French:
Céphalophe du Sabinio
/
German:
Ostlicher Gelbriickenducker
/
Spanish:
Duiker
de dorso amarillo oriental
Taxonomy.
Cephalophus silvicultor curticeps Grubb & Groves, 2001
,
Mt. Sabinio,
Uganda
.
Only recently recognized as distinct,
C. curticeps
was initially included as a subspecies of
C. silvicultor
. Monotypic.
Distribution.
S
Uganda
,
Rwanda
,
Burundi
, and W
Kenya
.
Descriptive notes.
No specific measurements available, but head-body c.
115 cm
, tail c.
11 cm
; weight c.
45 kg
. Based on skull size, this species is similar to the Western Yellow-backed Duiker (
C. silvicultor
), although much smaller. Greatest skull length is less than
26 cm
. Overall color is blackish-brown, generally darker than the Western Yellow-backed Duiker. A triangle of bright gold to very dark golden-brown hair is present on the dorsum;it is narrowest toward the head and ends in an abruptline at the hip. This dorsal triangle is narrower and darker than in the Western Yellow-backed Duiker; the mean posterior width is 18:
2 cm
(16.5-27.
3 cm
) in four specimens from
Rwanda
, and only 7-2 cm (3-10.
9 cm
) in four specimens from
Kenya
. Smaller gold-colored spots are found behind the poste-~ rior corners of the dorsal triangle; these markings are generally well developed and are never absent. The sides of the neck and cheeks are paler than the body. The coronal tuft is prominent and often reddish. Horns are present in both sexes; no measurements have been published. Dental formulais 10/3, C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 32.
Habitat.
Montane forests and bamboo stands, as well as some protected forests at lower elevations.
Food and Feeding.
There is no specific information available for this species, but probably frugivorouslike the Western Yellow-backed Duiker.
Breeding.
There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns.
There is little specific information available for this species. Two observations of foraging individuals in
Burundi
were made between 08:25 h and 09:15 h. Presumably active both night and day, like the Western Yellow-backed Duiker.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
There is no specific information available for this species, but likely similar to the Western Yellow-backed Duiker.
Status and Conservation.
CITES Appendix II (under
C. silvicultor
). Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under
C. silvicultor
). These general listings belie the status of the Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker: “
C. silvicultor
” (i.e. C. curticeps) is considered endangered in
Uganda
, rare in
Kenya
, and may be extinct in
Rwanda
. There is insufficient knowledge aboutits status in
Burundi
. It is likely that the Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker is of considerable conservation concern. Poaching activity radiating from
DR Congo
has resulted in a great decline in this species’ numbers in the three adjacenr range countries.
Bibliography.
Grubb & Groves (2001), Hillman et al. (1988), IUCN/SSC
Antelope Specialist
Group (20080), Kingdon (1988), Lumpin & Kranz (1984), Monfort (1988), Verschuren (1988), Wilson (2001).