Philantomba walteri, Colyn, Hulselmans, Sonet, Oudé, de Winter, Natta, Nagy & Verheyen, 2010

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 : 711

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6512484
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6773150
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F50713-99C7-FF7C-0640-FB27F948F3DC
treatment provided by	Conny
scientific name	Philantomba walteri
status

Treatment

232. View Plate 50: Bovidae

Verheyen’s Duiker

Philantomba walteri

French: Céphalophe de Verheyen / German: Verheyen-Ducker / Spanish: Duiker de Verheyen

Other common names: Walter's Duiker

Taxonomy. Philantomba walteri Colyn et al, 2010 ,

1gbere (8° 59’ N, 1° 7 E), For&t Protégée de Wari-Maro (328 m elevation), near the Ecological Center of Manigri, Benin.

The species was formerly included within P. maxwelli . A recent taxonomic review has elevated P. walter: to specific status on the basis of craniometric and genetic distinctiveness. Monotypic.

Distribution. Togo, Benin, and Nigeria (W of Cross River). The W distribution may extend to the Volta River in E Ghana. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Few measurements available, but head-body c.hh-75 cm, tail at least 15 cm; weight ¢.6-12 kg. There is minimal sexual dimorphism in skull size based on a limited sample. Verheyen’s Duiker closely resembles Maxwell's Duiker ( P. maxwelli ). Skull measurements are similar to, but smaller than, Maxwell's Duiker, and body size may follow the same trend. The general coloration is slaty gray or brown with paler underparts (including the throat, chest, and belly). Verheyen’s Duiker is readily distinguished from the Western Blue Duiker (P. congica) from east of the Cross River, as the dark dorsum gradually fades into the paler haunches. The white-fringed tail is also much longer. The hair on the nape of the neck (from the shoulders to the back of the head) is prominently reversed. The head is smaller and less massive than in Maxwell's Duiker, but the dark muzzle and forehead and distinctive pale superciliary stripes (which run from the medial corners of the eyes to the horn bases) are similar in the two species. The preorbital glands form a distinctive slit in front of each eye. There is a small tuft of dark hair on the crown of the head. Horns are always present in males; among females, horns have been recorded in over 93% of individuals in Nigeria and in all of the few females examined from Benin. The horns are small and pointed, with strong basal annulations in males. Horn lengths of 4-49 and 5-53 cm have been recorded in two male specimens; horns from a single female measured 3-96 cm. Dental formulais10/3,C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 32.

Habitat. Rainforests, or scattered forest patches in savanna zones.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but almost certainly frugivorous.

Breeding. In Nigeria, most young are born during the dry seasons (January-March and August-September). Little else is known about this species’ reproductive habits.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but presumably similar to Maxwell’s Duiker.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but presumably similar to Maxwell’s Duiker.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under P. maxuwelli). Populations in Togo and Nigeria are vulnerable, and this species is thought to be threatened in Benin. Verheyen’s Duiker is frequently caught and sold for meat; indeed, the majority of studied specimens have been collected in bushmeat markets.

Bibliography. Colyn et al. (2010), Grubb & Groves (2001), Happold (1987), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008ar), Wilson (2001).

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Artiodactyla
Family	Bovidae
Genus	Philantomba