Cephalophus jentinki, Thomas, 1892

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 : 720-721

246.

Jentink’s Duiker

Cephalophus jentinki

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

Taxonomy. Cephalophus jentinki Thomas, 1892 ,

Liberia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Sierra Leone, Liberia, and SW Ivory Coast; range is bordered to the E by the Niouniourou River. Currently restricted to scattered localities of remaining forest habitat.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 135 cm,tail 15 cm, shoulder height 75-85 cm; weight 56.5-79. 4 kg. One ofthe largest and moststrikingly colored duiker species. The body ofJentink’s Duiker, from the shouldersto the thin tail, has coarse, grizzled bluish-gray pelage; the upper shoulders, neck, and head are short-haired and glossy black. The boundary between the gray and black areas is marked by a thin white or pale gray band that circles in front of the forelegs and over the shoulders. A thin black line is present along the ventral midline; there is no dorsal stripe. The legs are whitish or pale gray. The muzzle and lips are white; other facial markings are absent. Preorbital glands are large and swell considerably in adult males. Both sexes bear a pair of sharp, straight horns that are typically smooth; annulations are generally absent. The horns are long when compared with other duiker species: 15.5-17. 5 cm is typical, but several skulls with horns longer than 21 cm have been recorded. The horns are black and angle backward from the forehead. The tuft of hair between the horns typical of duikersis either reduced or absent; when presentit is black in color. Dental formulais10/3,C0/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 32.

Habitat. Most frequently observed in closed canopy forests, although also recorded in areas of secondary forest and farmland adjacent to blocks of primary forest. A diversity of fruiting trees and very dense shelter are both important habitat characteristics.

Food and Feeding. Most information on feeding habits is from anecdotal evidence. Growing stems and fruits are principal food sources. Plant species frequently browsed upon reportedly include Hannoa klaineana and Chlorophora regia. Fruits from plants such as Ricinodendron heudelotii, Tieghemella heckelli, Cola nitida, Parinari sp., and Pentadesma sp. may be consumed; this duiker’s strong jaws allow it to consume hard-shelled fruits. Cultivated palm nuts, mangos, and cocoa pods may be fed upon during forays into farmland. This species has also been reported chewing on plant roots dug up with the hooves.

Breeding. All knowledge on the reproduction of Jentink’s Duiker is from captive specimens. During courtship, a male may inflict small puncture wounds on the rump of the female. Gestation period is unknown, but likely resembles that of the similarsized Western Yellow-backed Duiker ( C. silvicultor ). Littersize is one. Neonates weigh 3.3-5. 9 kg. Infants are a uniform dark brown with pale markings around the lips; they closely resemble young Western Yellow-backed Duikers,to the degree that infants may be easily misidentified. Adult coloration is achieved at approximately one year of age. A captive individuallived for approximately 21 years.

Activity patterns. Jentink’s Duiker appears to be largely nocturnal. Hunters use torches to locate animals by their eye-shine, and most collected specimens have been shot at night. Local hunters report activity peaks between 03:00-6:00 h and 13:00-17:00 h. A captive specimen at the Monrovia Zoo was active during 28% of daylight hours and 40% of the hours of darkness. When resting, Jentink’s Duiker may seek shelter in buttress bays of Bombax sp., Ceiba pentandra, and Klainedoxa gabonensis and along hollow or fallen tree trunks. If discovered,it will bolt from its refuge at great speed, but it cannot run far due to poor stamina.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. During the rainy season in Sierra Leone (May-October), Jentink’s Duikers are more frequently observed in coastal farmland than in the more typical habitat of forest. This species appears to be sedentary and is supposedly territorial. Most observations in the wild are of solitary animals, although pairs have been observed on rare occasion.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The last formal estimate of numbers in 1999 placed the wild population at 3500 individuals, although others suggest the population is no greater than 2000. Continued hunting pressure and loss of habitat throughoutits range are principal threats.

Bibliography. Davies & Birkenhager (1990), East (1999), Farst et al. (1980), Ganas & Lindsell (2010), Happold (1973), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008d), Kingdon (1997), Newing (2001), Thomas (1892b), Walther (1990a), Weigl (2005), Wilson (1987, 2001), Wilson & Wilson (1990).

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 , Liberia , and SW Ivory Coast ; range is bordered to the E by the Niouniourou River. Currently restricted to scattered localities of remaining forest habitat.