Damaliscus topi (Blaine, 1914)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-779 : 660

161.

Coastal Topt

Damaliscus topi

French: Topi cotier / German: Kisten-Topi / Spanish: Topi costero

Taxonomy. Damaliscus korrigum topi Blaine, 1914 ,

Near Malindi, Kenya.

Formerly considered a subspecies of D. korrigum . Monotypic.

Distribution. Coastal East Africa, from the Shebelle River in Juba region of Somalia S at least to Malindi, Kenya. The range is isolated from that of other taxa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 200 cm,tail 43 cm, ear 19-5 cm, hindfoot 51 cm; weight 110-130 kg. Color is darker and richer than in other species, heavily suffused with a mauve bloom, and becoming paler on the belly. The facial blaze is blackish-gray, with a reddish tinge, and sprinkled with white hairs. Although it is much smaller than the other species, the horns are longer than in other East African topi; they are slender and bend backward very slightly. The horns of males and females hardly differ, but the tips are closer together in females. However, in size, the sexual dimorphism is greater than in the other East African Damaliscus species.

Habitat. The Coastal Topilives in floodplain grasslands of Kenya and Somalia.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but all topi are grazers.

Breeding. Apparently breeding is year-round, not seasonal as in most species.

Activity patterns. Appear to emerge from cover at dawn to graze, retire to light woodland in the middle of the day, and reemerge toward dusk.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but itis probably like other topi. Males tend to be solitary and female groups cross their territories.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red Last (as D. lunatus topr). In the 1990s there were estimated to be 83,000 on the Kenya coast, and smaller populations probably remain in southern Somalia.

Bibliography. Kingdon (1982).

Figures

152. Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus), 153. Blesbok (Damaliscus phillipsi), 154. Western Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), 155. Bangweulu Tsessebe (Damaliscus superstes), 156. Korrigum (Damaliscus korrigum), 157. Tiang (Damaliscus tiang), 158. Uganda Top 1 (Damaliscus ugandae), 159. Ruaha Topt (Damaliscus eurus), 160. Serengeti Topi (Damaliscus jimela), 161. Coastal Topt (Damaliscus topr)

Distribution. Coastal East Africa, from the Shebelle River in Juba region of Somalia S at least to Malindi , Kenya . The range is isolated from that of other taxa.