Philantomba simpsoni (Thomas, 1910)

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 : 715

237.

Simpson’s Blue Duiker

Philantomba simpsoni

French: Céphalophe de Simpson / German: Simpson-Blauducker / Spanish: Duiker azul de Simpson

Taxonomy. Cephalophus simpson: Thomas, 1910 ,

Lukenye Valley, South Central Congo.

P. simpsoni was formerly included as a subspecies of P. monticola . Monotypic.

Distribution. C DR Congo (range confined by the Congo and the Kasai rivers).

Descriptive notes. No specific measurements available, but head-body c. 60 cm, tail c. 10 cm; weight c. 5 kg. Based on skull size, Simpson’s Blue Duiker is a relatively small member of the genus Philantomba . The general appearance is of a reddish duiker: the head, neck, and body are reddish-brown, darkening to blackish-brown in a strip along the midline of the back. The underparts are white, and this pale coloration extends up the sides and blends gradually with the color of the flanks. The legs are rufous-brown; the inner surfaces are pale but not white. The haunches are redder than the body, and the transition between the darker dorsal area and the red hindlegs is poorly marked. The face has a dark brown blaze running from the muzzle to the top of the forehead. Bright rufous superciliary streaks are well defined at the periphery of the dark forehead. The underside of the jaw is white, blending to dull rufous at the throat. Spike-like horns are usually present in both sexes; they are occasionally lacking in females. Those of males are long for the genus Philantomba , averaging 4-4 cm; horns of females are proportionate to body size for blue duikers, averaging 2: 74 cm. Dental formulais10/3,C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/502) =32.

Habitat. Forest. There is no specific information available for habitat preferences.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but presumably frugivorous, like the Western Blue Duiker (PF. congica) and the Eastern Blue Duiker (P. aequatorialis).

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

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 similar to other Philantomba species.

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). There is no specific information available on the status of Simpson’s Blue Duiker. Hunting for bushmeat is likely a major threat.

Bibliography. Grubb & Groves (2001), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008as), Lydekker (1914).

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. C DR Congo (range confined by the Congo and the Kasai rivers).