Cephalophus brookei, Thomas, 1903

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 : 723-724

253.

Brooke's Duiker

Cephalophus brookei

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

Taxonomy. Cephalophus brookei Thomas, 1903 ,

Fanti, Cape Coast ( Ghana).

Initially described as a subspecies of C. ogilby :, but it now appears that the similarities between the two species are the result of convergence. Monotypic.

Distribution. Sierra Leone to Ghana W of Volta River.

Descriptive notes. No specific measurements available, but head-body c. 100 cm, tail c. 12 cm; weight c.14-20 kg. It is similar in size to Ogilby’s Duiker ( C. ogilbyi ), which it generally resembles. The overall color is a dull golden brown; the dorsal surface tends to be brighter, and the undersides are very pale. Brooke’s Duiker is paler in overall color than Ogilby’s Duiker. The dorsal midline is marked with a black stripe 2-:7.6-6 cm wide (wider than in Ogilby’s Duiker); this stripe begins around the shoulders and terminates on the rump as a very thin line (it does not extend to the tail). The tail has a distinctive terminal tuft of black and white hairs. The legs are the same color as the body, with slightly paler inner surfaces. Most individuals display a reversal of hair on the neck, starting from a whorl at the shoulders and continuing up the nape in a wide band for 7.5-10 cm. The coronal tuft is reddish-ocher. Horns are present in both sexes: they are 5.1-9. 3 cm long in males and smaller in females, approximately 2: 3 cm in length. Dental formula is 10/3, C0/1, P3/3,M3/3 (x2) =32.

Habitat. Primary forests in moist lowlands are preferred; this speciesis rarely observed in secondary forest. Brooke’s Duiker may enter farmland adjacentto forestto feed on Crops.

Food and Feeding. Fruits and seeds appear to comprise the majority of the diet, accounting for 92% of dry weight in one stomach sampled. The remainder of the sample was comprised ofvegetative parts (7%) and flowers (1%). Species observed in this stomach analysis included Dialium aubrevillei, Diospyros sp. (seeds only), Amphimas pterocarpoides, Nauclea sp., Scottelia chevalieri, and Coelocaryon oxycarpum. A juvenile in Tai Forest National Park, Ivory Coast was observed feeding on the fruits of Coelocaryon oxycarpum.

Breeding. There is very little specific information available for this species, but the infant coatis speckled.

Activity patterns. Primarily diurnal; one captive in Liberia was active for 58% of the day and only 17% of the night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but presumably solitary.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II (under C. ogilby:). Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List (as C. o. brooke). The total population is estimated at 5000 individuals. The distribution of Brooke's Duiker is localized, and surveys are confounded by field similarities with the nocturnal Western Bay Duiker ( C. dorsalis ). Brooke’s Duiker appears to be highly susceptible to the effects of habitat loss and hunting.

Bibliography. East (1999), Grubb (1978), Grubb & Groves (2001), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008k), Lydekker (1914), Newing (1994, 2001), Wilson (2001).

Figures

On following pages: 245. Eastern Bay Duiker (Cephalophus castaneus); 246. Jentink’s Duiker (Cephalophus jentinki); 247. Western Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silviculton; 248. Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus curticeps); 249. Abbott's Duiker (Cephalophus spadix); 250. Black Duiker (Cephalophus niger); 251. Ogilby’s Duiker (Cephalophus ogilbyi); 252. White-legged Duiker (Cephalophus crusalbum): 253. Brooke's Duiker (Cephalophus brookel); 254. Peters's Duiker (Cephalophus callipygus).

Distribution. Sierra Leone to Ghana W of Volta River.