Cephalophus curticeps (Grubb & Groves, 2001)

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 : 721-722

248.

Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker

Cephalophus curticeps

French: Céphalophe du Sabinio / German: Ostlicher Gelbriickenducker / Spanish: Duiker de dorso amarillo oriental

Taxonomy. Cephalophus silvicultor curticeps Grubb & Groves, 2001 ,

Mt. Sabinio, Uganda.

Only recently recognized as distinct, C. curticeps was initially included as a subspecies of C. silvicultor . Monotypic.

Distribution. S Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and W Kenya.

Descriptive notes. No specific measurements available, but head-body c. 115 cm, tail c. 11 cm; weight c. 45 kg. Based on skull size, this species is similar to the Western Yellow-backed Duiker ( C. silvicultor ), although much smaller. Greatest skull length is less than 26 cm. Overall color is blackish-brown, generally darker than the Western Yellow-backed Duiker. A triangle of bright gold to very dark golden-brown hair is present on the dorsum;it is narrowest toward the head and ends in an abruptline at the hip. This dorsal triangle is narrower and darker than in the Western Yellow-backed Duiker; the mean posterior width is 18: 2 cm (16.5-27. 3 cm) in four specimens from Rwanda, and only 7-2 cm (3-10. 9 cm) in four specimens from Kenya. Smaller gold-colored spots are found behind the poste-~ rior corners of the dorsal triangle; these markings are generally well developed and are never absent. The sides of the neck and cheeks are paler than the body. The coronal tuft is prominent and often reddish. Horns are present in both sexes; no measurements have been published. Dental formulais 10/3, C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 32.

Habitat. Montane forests and bamboo stands, as well as some protected forests at lower elevations.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but probably frugivorouslike the Western Yellow-backed Duiker.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is little specific information available for this species. Two observations of foraging individuals in Burundi were made between 08:25 h and 09:15 h. Presumably active both night and day, like the Western Yellow-backed Duiker.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely similar to the Western Yellow-backed Duiker.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II (under C. silvicultor ). Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under C. silvicultor ). These general listings belie the status of the Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker: “ C. silvicultor ” (i.e. C. curticeps) is considered endangered in Uganda, rare in Kenya, and may be extinct in Rwanda. There is insufficient knowledge aboutits status in Burundi. It is likely that the Eastern Yellow-backed Duiker is of considerable conservation concern. Poaching activity radiating from DR Congo has resulted in a great decline in this species’ numbers in the three adjacenr range countries.

Bibliography. Grubb & Groves (2001), Hillman et al. (1988), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (20080), Kingdon (1988), Lumpin & Kranz (1984), Monfort (1988), Verschuren (1988), 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. S Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi , and W Kenya .