Black-marked duikers

At least I think it's a duiker.

There's one (maybe an individual, maybe more than one) animal that has turned up several times on both night- and daytime cameras that has a peculiar black marking on its back. I was trying to ID the exact species via wiki, but I can't find any species with this particular marking. Any ideas?

I'll see if I can post more example videos when I come across them. The last two times I tried to ID it something bugged and I got thrown out so I didn't even fav them... it's definitely trying not to be ID'd! 😄

Posted April 23, 2015 9:11 AM

by Quia moderator

Here's another, at night, of course... ACP00006xv They're pretty big! Do you remember the colouration from the daytime camera or shall we go on the hunt for a daylight video to get a better idea of what they look like?

Posted April 23, 2015 9:35 AM

by jokergirl

Yes, it was definitely red-coated with a blackish mark on the back. Can't say anything about horns or the like, sadly. It's all antelope butts!

Posted April 23, 2015 9:38 AM

by jokergirl

Here's another... I think!

http://talk.chimpandsee.org/#/subjects/ACP00007ow this might be a different individual, not sure

http://talk.chimpandsee.org/#/subjects/ACP00001sj

Posted April 23, 2015 9:43 AM

by zorglax

Here is it again:

ACP0000ejr

Posted April 23, 2015 9:50 AM

by NuriaM scientist, moderator

Red-flanked duiker (Cephalophus rufilatus)?
let me know your opinions 😉

Posted April 23, 2015 10:04 AM

by jokergirl

That would be an individual with a very sharply bordered coloration. I couldn't see any pictures on a cursory image search that are even close to this sharp, but I suppose it's possible?

I guess we'll have to find more and see if it's just one, or several individuals. (And hunt those day-time pictures!)

😉

Posted April 23, 2015 10:28 AM

by Quia moderator

If the dark stripe didn't widen so much on the rump...

Bay Duiker: http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Cephalophus_dorsalis.html

Posted April 23, 2015 10:50 AM

by NuriaM scientist, moderator

thank you Quia,

the night videos are really difficult...let´s see if someone finds a day one.

Posted April 23, 2015 10:52 AM

by Quia moderator

ACP0000ecc

Another night video, but at a different angle, showing off the black stripe all the way up the back and neck. From this angle it looks very similar to the Bay Duiker.

Posted April 23, 2015 12:01 PM

by Quia moderator

Found a more exhaustive description of the Bay Duiker that seems to match with our funny black-backed images! My highlight on the particularly relevant bit.

A medium-sized, heavily built duiker with a coarse coat and a somewhat porcine visage. The general color is bright chestnut red with lighter underparts, a sharply defined black dorsal band, a blackish midline on the belly, and brownish black legs. There is much individual variation in the extent of the black markings and in the intensity of the black coloration. The dorsal band usually begins at the top of the neck and ends at the tail, but in some specimens it extends from nose to tail with a break between the horns, and in others it may be indistinct or absent on neck and shoulders. In some individuals the black of the dorsal band spreads out on the lower back and rump, or may spread over the shoulders to connect with the legs. The tail is black with a pronounced white tuft. The head is brown, with a lighter stripe above the eyes. Lips and chin are white. Head tuft is absent or poorly developed. The muzzle is short and strongly tapered. Ears are brownish black on the back, whitish inside. Inguinal (groin) glands are present. Bay duikers are entirely dark at birth, the chestnut color and black markings developing after several months. The horns (both sexes) are round, slender spikes that are lightly ringed at the base and grow backward in the plane of the face. Females are larger than males, with slimmer horns, a narrower dorsal stripe, and less extensive black markings.

On that note, the places I'm finding information while looking up african wildlife are... different. Tossup whether or not they'll be ecology conservation sites or hunting sites or sometimes both.

Posted April 23, 2015 1:03 PM

by jokergirl

Sounds likely then! I have one here http://talk.chimpandsee.org/#/subjects/ACP00003v7 that is similar but has no distinct spot on the back. So I'm willing to buy that classification, still going to look for more videos though 😃

ETA: http://talk.chimpandsee.org/#/subjects/ACP00005gk seems like somewhere between the two. Getting more and more likely.

Posted April 23, 2015 1:13 PM