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 115. Nigerian Reedbuck Redunca nigeriensis French: Rédunca nigérian / German: Tschad-Riedbock / Spanish: Redunca de Nigeria Taxonomy. Cervicapra bohor nigeriensis Blaine, 1913 , Ibi, Northern Nigeria . The Nigerian Reedbuck was formerly included as a subspecies under R. redunca . Monotypic. Distribution. Nigeria to W Sudan . The Niger River is provisionally used as the boundary between the Nigerian Reedbuck and the Western Reedbuck (R. re dunca) to the west. Descriptive notes. No confirmed measurements are available. The pelage is relatively short and lies close to the body. The overall color is a uniform golden fawn; the midline of the back tends to be slightly darker or more richly colored than the flanks. The underparts are white. A grayish stripe, which may be quite dark, is present on the fronts of the forelegs below the carpus. The dorsal surface of the tail is dark (approaching black in some specimens), contrasting strikingly with the white underside. A pale ring surrounds each eye; otherwise the head is the same golden color as the body. The interior surfaces of the ears are dark. A dark circular patch, the location of the subauricular gland, is present beneath each ear. Horns are present only in males; in form, they extend backward and diverge before curving forward at the tips. The horn bases are particularly stout and possess transverse ridges. Horn length is typically 23-27 cm, with a tip-to-tip distance of 11-20 cm. Dental formulais10/3,C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 32. Habitat. Grasslands and wooded savannas close to permanent water. In northern Cameroon , the Nigerian Reedbuck uses a variety of habitats, with a preference for open Anaogeissus leiocarpus woodlands; this habitat occurs principally along watercourses. Estimated population densities are relatively low: 0-3-2-81 ind/km?®. Food and Feeding. The Nigerian Reedbuck is a grazer. No formal studies on dietary habits have been performed;its diet is presumed to resemble that of the Bohor Reedbuck ( R. bohor ). Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but most aspects of the reproductive biology are probably similar to those of the Bohor Reedbuck. Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely active both night and day like the Bohor Reedbuck. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Because ofits shy and retiring nature, little is known aboutthis species. The Nigerian Reedbuck is generally either solitary (44-70% of observations) or found in small groups of up to five or six animals. In northern Cameroon ,single individuals and pairs are most frequently observed; the average group size of 41 groups was 1-4 animals. Often, the only sign ofthis speciesis the flashing of the white underside of the tail as it flees. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under R. redunca ). The Nigerian Reedbuck has been extirpated from large parts ofits former distribution, and is generally found in scattered, low-density populations. It is most common in Cameroon and Central African Republic , where the combined population is approximately 7500 individuals; population numbers are quite low in Chad and Nigeria . Expansion of human activities, such as agriculture and livestock grazing, and uncontrolled hunting are principal threats. Droughts and desertification may contribute to population declines in northern parts of the species’ distribution. Bibliography. East (1999), Esser (1980), Happold (1973), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008az), Lydekker (1914), Van Lavieren & Esser (1979).