Philantomba lugens (Thomas, 1898)

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 : 714

236.

Mountain Blue Duiker

Philantomba lugens

French: Céphalophe de montagne / German: Tansania-Blauducker / Spanish: Duiker azul de montana

Taxonomy. Cephalophus lugens Thomas, 1898 ,

Urori, German East Africa.

Formerly considered a subspecies of P monticola . Split by some authors into subspecies based on the mountain ranges inhabited, but treated as monotypic here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Highlands of Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. No specific measurements available, but head-body ¢. 65 cm, tail ¢. 10 cm; weight c. 5 kg. Based on skull measurements, the Mountain Blue Duikeris larger than the neighboring Eastern Blue Duiker (P. aequatorialis) and Malawi Blue Duiker (P. hecki). In the field, the size and coloration of the Mountain Blue Duiker may cause confusion with the slightly larger Mountain Suni ( Neotragus kirchenpaueri). The pelage is a uniform dark gray-brown across the back, sides, and legs, except for a pale streak down the front of the limbs. The rump darkens to black above the tail, but this marking is not conspicuous because the haunches are also quite dark. The underparts are pale brownish-gray; the groin tends to be paler and there may be a narrow streak of white along the midline. The hairs on the nape of the neck are typically reversed (directed forward). The face is brown, exceptfor the forehead and the top of the muzzle, which are nearly black. The chin and underside of the jaw are white, and whitish superciliary streaks border the dark forehead. The ears are nearly black. The crown of the head has a very long crest of black hairs. Horns are present in both sexes and are long for a blue duiker, averaging 4-3 cm in males and 3-2 cm in females. Dental formula is 10/3, C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 32.

Habitat. Montane forests. The type specimen of P. lugens was collected at an elevation of ¢. 1000 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely fruits and leaves.

Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but presumably similar to other Philantomba duikers.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but presumably diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but probably like other Philantomba duikers.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II (under P. monticola ). Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (combined with the other nine blue duiker species within the P. monticola complex). The Mountain Blue Duiker is thought to exist in relatively low numbers. Populations appear to be severely affected by hunting; in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania, relative densities were ten times lower in forest reserves where regular hunting occurs than in reserves subjected to low hunting pressures. Habitat loss through human encroachmentis anothersignificant threat.

Bibliography. East (1999), Grubb & Groves (2001), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008as), Kingdon (1982), Lydekker (1914), Nielsen (2006), Rovero et al. (2005).

Figures

233. Western Blue Duiker (Philantomba congica), 234. Bioko Blue Duiker (Philantomba melanorhea), 235. Eastern Blue Duiker (Philantomba aequatorialis), 236. Mountain Blue Duiker (Philantomba lugens), 237. Simpson’s Blue Duiker (Philantomba simpsoni), 238. Malawi Blue Duiker (Philantomba hecki), 239. Zimbabwe Blue Duiker (Philantomba bicolor), 240. Cape Blue Duiker (Philantomba monticola), 241. Angolan Blue Duiker (Philantomba anchietae), 242. Zambian Blue Duiker (Philantomba defries)

Distribution. Highlands of Tanzania .