| Royal antelope | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Individual at the San Diego Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Antilopinae |
| Genus: | Neotragus |
| Species: | N. pygmaeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Neotragus pygmaeus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Capra pygmaeaLinnaeus, 1758 | |
Theroyal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) is aWest Africanantelope recognized as the world's smallest. It was firstdescribed by Swedish zoologistCarl Linnaeus in 1758. It stands up to merely 25 cm (10 in) at the shoulder and weighs 2.5–3 kg (5.5–6.6 lb). A characteristic feature is the long and slender legs, with the hindlegs twice as long as the forelegs.Horns are possessed only by males; the short, smooth, spiky horns measure 2.5–3 cm (0.98–1.18 in) and bend backward. The softcoat is reddish to golden brown, in sharp contrast with the whiteventral parts. In comparison toBates's pygmy antelope, the royal antelope has a longer muzzle, broader lips, a smaller mouth and smaller cheek muscles.
Typicallynocturnal (active at night), the royal antelope exhibits remarkable alertness.Territories are marked with dung. An herbivore, the royal antelope prefers small quantities of fresh foliage and shoots; fruits and fungi may be taken occasionally. Like otherneotragines, the royal antelope ismonogamous. Both sexes can becomesexually mature by as early as six months. Births have been reported in November and December. A single, delicate young is born after an unknown gestational period.
The royal antelope prefers areas with fresh and dense growth of shrubs and other plants. It inhabits the warm, moist lowland forests prevalent in western African countries such asCôte d'Ivoire,Ghana,Guinea,Liberia andSierra Leone. The royal antelope has been categorized asLeast Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The population is feared to be declining due to habitat deterioration and expanding human settlement. A significant threat to the survival of this antelope is hunting forbushmeat.
The vernacular name "royal antelope" is based on a statement made byWillem Bosman, a merchant associated with theDutch West India Company, that the antelope was called "the king of theharts" (i.e., the king of the antelope) by locals.[3]
Thescientific name isNeotragus pygmaeus/niːˈɒtrəɡəspɪɡˈmiːəs/. It is placed in thegenusNeotragus and thefamilyBovidae. It was firstdescribed by Swedish zoologistCarl Linnaeus in thetenth edition ofSystema Naturae (1758). German zoologistPeter Simon Pallas recognised two species –Tragulus pygmaeus andAntilope pygmaea. However, both of them were found to have the sametype, the royal antelope. Hence these are treated assynonyms forN. pygmaeus.[4]
Thegeneric nameNeotragus consists of twoGreek roots: νέος (néos), "new", and τράγος (trágos), "he-goat",[5] while thespecific namepygmaeus comes from the Greek πυγμαῖος (pugmaîos), "pygmy, fist-sized".
ThetribeNeotragini comprises a variety of dwarf antelopes apart fromNeotragus – these includeDorcatragus (beira),Ourebia (oribi),Madoqua (dik dik),Oreotragus (klipspringer) andRaphicerus.[6] The tribe has been shown to beparaphyletic.[7][8] A 2014phylogenetic analysis based oncytochrome bsequences and linear skull measurements showedpolyphyly inNeotragus. The royal antelope is likely to have had an ancestor in common with the klipspringer and duikers (subfamilyCephalophinae). The genusNeotragus was formerly confused with the distantly related pygmy antelope genusNesotragus (von Düben, 1846), from Greek νῆσος (nêsos), "island".[9]
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The royal antelope is the smallestantelope andruminant in the world.[10][11][12][6] It is also the smallest Africanungulate, followed byBates's pygmy antelope (Nesotragus batesi).[13][14][15] It is also the smallest of all bovines. The royal antelope reaches merely 25 cm (9.8 in) at the shoulder and weighs 2.5–3 kg (5.5–6.6 lb).[12] The head and body length is typically 40 cm (16 in). A characteristic feature is the long and slender legs, with the hindlegs twice as long as the forelegs – a remarkable similarity to ahare.[12] The thin tail, 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) long, is white on the underside, ending in a white tuft. The species issexually dimorphic, with females being larger than males. Only males possess horns, these being short, smooth, ventrally reflexed spikes measuring 2.5–3 cm (1.0–1.2 in) long.[2][12][16]
The soft coat is reddish to golden brown, in sharp contrast with the whiteventral parts. A brown band runs across the chest, and a distinct rufous collar can be observed on the neck. The chin and the medial surfaces of the legs are also white. The face is characterised by large, round dark brown eyes, small translucent ears, a slimmuzzle, and a large grayish pinkrhinarium.[12][16] In comparison to Bates's pygmy antelope, the royal antelope has a longer muzzle, broader lips, a smaller mouth and smaller cheek muscles.
The royal antelope exhibits remarkable alertness, and consequently little is known about its behaviour. The animal will immediately seek cover if alarmed and flees as soon as the danger is very close. It can move swiftly, either by sprinting fast with the body low to the ground, or through strong leaps powered by the large, well-muscled hindlegs. It can cover 2.8 m (9.2 ft) in a single leap, and rise as high as 55 centimetres (22 in) above the ground.[17]It is typicallynocturnal (active at night), though activity may also be observed during the day.[6] It generally rests or ruminates during the day.[18]Territories are marked with dung. The reduced size of thepreorbital glands, which are used for scent-marking, could indicate that marking behavior is not very prominent in this antelope.[12]
A herbivore, the royal antelope prefers small quantities of fresh foliage and shoots; fruits andfungi may be taken occasionally. Though the antelope is considered to be nocturnal, zoologistJonathan Kingdon holds that feeding occurs throughout the day, though some foraging may also be observed at night.[19] In comparison to Bates's pygmy antelope, the royal antelope has a longer muzzle, broader lips, a smaller mouth and smaller cheek muscles. These features do not allow complete digestion oflignified growth. Individuals may often move into new locations foraging for fresh growth.[6]
Like other neotragines, the royal antelope ismonogamous, thoughpolygamy has been occasionally observed.[12] Individuals of both sexes have been known to reachsexual maturity by six months of age.[20] Births have been reported in November and December. Typically a single, delicate offspring is born after an unknown gestational period, weighing 0.8–1 kg (1.8–2.2 lb) – nearly a third of an adult's weight. Young appear similar to adults in coloration.[17][18] The maximum lifespan of a captive royal antelope was estimated at six years and eight months by a 1993 study.[21]
The royal antelope prefers areas with fresh and dense growth of shrubs and other plants. It inhabits the warm, moist lowland forests prevalent in western African countries such asCôte d'Ivoire,Ghana,Guinea,Liberia andSierra Leone. The animal's habitat also includes forest fringes andsecondary forests. Its geographic range extends eastward from the Kounounkan Massif in southwestern Guinea through Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire to theVolta River in Ghana. The royal antelope may also be found in the region north to the forested areas of western Africa, which is marked by the interface of forest andsavannah habitats.[1][19]
The royal antelope has been categorized asLeast Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). In 1999, the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group estimated the total population to be about 62,000; however, this is likely to be an underestimate.[22] The populations are thought to be declining due to habitat deterioration and expanding human settlement. A significant threat to the survival of this antelope is hunting forbushmeat; it is seldom hunted in Sierra Leone and Liberia, whereas it is a major source of bushmeat in Côte d'Ivoire. Protected areas where the royal antelope occurs include theTai National Park,Haut Bandama Fauna and Flora Reserve and Mabi-Yaya Classified Forest (Côte d'Ivoire);Kakum National Park andAssin-Attandanso Game Production Reserve (Ghana);Ziama andDiecke Forest Reserves (Guinea);Tiwai Island andGola Rainforest National Park (Sierra Leone).[1]
Data related toNeotragus pygmaeus at Wikispecies
Media related toNeotragus pygmaeus at Wikimedia Commons
