Cephalophus lestradei (Groves & Grubb, 1974)

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 : 727

257.

Lestrade’s Duiker

Cephalophus lestradei

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

Taxonomy. Cephalophus weynsi lestradei Groves & Grubb, 1974 ,

Kuwingingi, Rugege Forest, near Astrida, Rwanda.

Although treated as a full species here,it was formerly considered a subspecies of C. weynsi. Monotypic.

Distribution. W Rwanda and W Burundi, and then S to W Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Very few specific measurements available, but head—body 93 cm and tail 10-5 cm (a single specimen); weight unknown. Based on skull size, Lestrade’s Duikeris intermediate in size between the closely related Johnstons Duiker (C. johnstoni) and Weyns’s Duiker (C. weynsi ). Coloration of Lestrade’s Duikeris very dark, generally a dark gray-brown with varying reddish tones. Each hair has bands of color from tip to base (black, ocher, black, pale); the extent of each band determines the overall appearance of individuals. The belly is pale gray, with yellowish tints in the inguinal and axillary regions. The legs are darker than the body, becoming almost black at the hooves. The prominent black dorsal stripe lacks sharp borders;it begins diffusely on the neck and becomes more intense towards the rump where it widens, becoming a wash of dark on the hindquarters. The tail is completely dark except for the black and white terminal tuft. The hair on the neck is very short and the direction of hair growth is reversed along the dorsal midline. The forehead is very dark brown, and the well-developed frontal crest is rufous-chestnut in color. Both sexes bear horns; those of females are only one-half the length of those of males. Typical horn lengths are 9.9-10. 7 cm for males and 5-6 cm for females. The horn bases are swollen. Dental formulais10/3, C0/1,P 3/3,M 3/3 (x2) = 32.

Habitat. Montane forests.

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

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under C. weynst). Populations of Lestrade’s Duiker have been assessed as rare. It is threatened by uncontrolled hunting and habitat destruction.

Bibliography. East (1999), Groves (2010), Groves & Grubb (1974), Grubb & Groves (2001), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008p), Monfort (1988).

Figures

On following pages: 259. Western White-bellied Duiker (Cephalophus leucogaster); 260. Uele White-bellied Duiker (Cephalophus arrhenii); 261. Red-flanked Duiker (Cephalophus rufilatus); 262. Natal Red Duiker (Cephalophus natalensis); 263. Harvey's Duiker (Cephalophus harveyi); 264. Black-fronted Duiker (Cephalophus nigrifrons); 265. ltombwe Duiker (Cephalophus hypoxanthus); 266. Rwenzori Duiker (Cephalophus rubidus); 267. Mount Elgon Duiker (Cephalophus fosteri); 268. Mount Kenya Duiker (Cephalophus hooki)

Distribution. W Rwanda and W Burundi , and then S to W Tanzania .