| Silver dik-dik | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Antilopinae |
| Genus: | Madoqua |
| Species: | M. piacentinii |
| Binomial name | |
| Madoqua piacentinii Drake-Brockman, 1911[2] | |
Thesilver dik-dik (Madoqua piacentinii) is a smallantelope found in low, dense thickets along the southeastern coast ofSomalia and inAcacia-Commiphora bushland in theShebelle Valley in southeasternEthiopia.[1] It is the smallest species ofdik-dik, with a length of 45–50 cm (18–20 in), a height of 30–33 cm (12–13 in), and a weight of 2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lb).[3] Its back and flanks are grizzled silvery, while the limbs, ears, and muzzle are ochraceus in colour.[3] Little is known about its status, but numbers are believed to be decreasing.[1]
Together with the closely relatedSalt's dik-dik, this species forms the subgenusMadoqua in the genusMadoqua (otherdik-diks are also in the genusMadoqua, but the subgenusRhynchotragus).[4][5] Thetaxonomy of this subgenus is complex and a matter of dispute. Though most recent authorities treat the silver dik-dik as amonotypic species,[1][6] the silver dik-dik has been suggested as a subspecies of Swayne's dik-dik[4] (itself now usually treated as a subspecies ofSalt's dik-dik).[5]
