Maxwell's duiker
| Maxwell's duiker[1] | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Cephalophinae |
| Genus: | Philantomba |
| Species: | P. maxwellii |
| Binomial name | |
| Philantomba maxwellii H. Smith, 1871 |
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Maxwell's duiker (Philantomba maxwellii) is a small antelope found in western Africa.
Contents
Description[edit]
Maxwell's duiker is an ungulate and a member of the Bovidae family. It grows to 30 in (76 cm) in length with a typical shoulder height of 14.5 to 16 in (37 to 41 cm), and weighs around 11 lb (5.0 kg), making it one of the smallest duikers. Its coat is either grey-brown or grey, with a white underbelly and white markings on the face. Pale bluish, nearly purple coats occur in rare cases.
Habitat and Distribution[edit]
Maxwell's duikers are found in the Western parts of Africa along with other species of duiker.[3] They inhabit lowland rainforests, such as lightly logged closed canopy forests and other locations like mixed farmlands and habitats with secondary vegetation, and are mostly found in forest areas subject to little human disturbance.
Diet[edit]
The Maxwell duiker's diet mostly consists of fruits, seeds, secondary vegetation and shrubs. Maxwell's duiker and other duikers present in the same geographical area were found to have similar diets. Diets are subject to seasonal changes, with a shift towards vegetation and parts of flowers at the beginning of winter.[3]
The animal's small size is reflected in its food choices. Due to its smaller mouth, body anatomy, and masseter muscle, it tends to concentrate on food items up to 3 (cm) in diameter, while larger species eat items up to 6 (cm) in diameter.[4]
Behavior[edit]
Maxwell's duiker has a preorbital gland known to be used for marking objects and members of the same species, especially by dominant males. It was one of the first animals observed using its preorbital gland for scent marking. It was shown that scent marking is also associated with individual recognition or social appeasement as male and females will often press these glands together on both sides of each other's faces.[5]
Reproduction and Lifespan[edit]
Calves are born mainly during the two dry seasons in Africa. Females birth a single calf once per year, after a gestation period of 120 days. Offspring usually weigh around 1/10 the weight of their mother and are similar in color to calves from other duiker species. Maxwell's duikers can survive up to 10 years in captivity.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 715. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008). Cephalophus maxwellii. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 March 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
- ^ a b Newing, H. (2001, January 1). Bushmeat hunting and management: Implications of duiker ecology and interspecific competition. Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://link.springer.com/journal/10531
- ^ Roth, H., & Hofmann, T. (2003). Feeding preferences of duiker. Mammalian Biology, 60(2), Pp. 65-77(13). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.ingentaconnect.com.ezproxy.lib.utah.edu/
- ^ Thiessen, D., & Rice, M. (1976). Mammalian scent gland marking and social behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 83(4), 505-539. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.83.4.505
- ^ Ralls, K. (1973, June 13). Cephalophus Maxwellii. Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.science.smith.edu/
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cephalophus maxwellii. |
