Royal antelope

The royal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) is a West African antelope, recognised as the world's smallest antelope. It was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It stands up to merely 25 centimetres (10 in) at the shoulder and weighs 2.5–3 kilograms (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 centimetres (1.0–1.2 in) and bend backward. The soft coat is reddish to golden brown, in sharp contrast with the white ventral parts. In comparison to Bates's pygmy antelope, the royal antelope has a longer muzzle, broader lips, a smaller mouth and smaller cheek muscles.

Royal antelope
Individual at the San Diego Zoo

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Neotragus
Species:
N. pygmaeus
Binomial name
Neotragus pygmaeus
Synonyms[2]

Capra pygmaea Linnaeus, 1758
Antilope regia Erxleben, 1777
Antilope opinigera Lesson, 1827
Moschus pygmaeus Linnaeus, 1766
Nanotragus perpusillus Gray, 1851

Typically nocturnal (active at night), the royal antelope exhibits remarkable alertness. Territories are marked with dung. A herbivore, the royal antelope prefers small quantities of fresh foliage and shoots; fruits and fungi may be taken occasionally. Like other neotragines, the royal antelope is monogamous. Both sexes can become sexually 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 as Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The royal antelope has been categorised as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The populations are feared to be declining due to habitat deterioration and expanding human settlement. A significant threat to the survival of this antelope is hunting for bushmeat.

Taxonomy and etymology

The scientific name of the royal antelope is Neotragus pygmaeus. It is placed in the genus Neotragus and the family Bovidae. It was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae (1758). German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas recognised two species – Tragulus pygmaeus and Antilope pygmaea. However, both of them were found to have the same type, the royal antelope. Hence these were treated as synonyms for N. pygmaeus.[3]

The generic name Neotragus is constituted by two Greek words: neo ("new") and tragus ("he-goat"),[4] while the specific name pygmaeus comes from the Greek pugmaios ("as small as a fist", in reference to the diminutive size of the antelope). The vernacular name "royal antelope" is based on a statement made by Willem Bosman, a merchant associated with the Dutch West India Company, that the antelope was called "the king of the harts" ("hart" means "deer" in Old English) by locals.[5]

The tribe Neotragini comprises a variety of dwarf antelopes apart from Neotragus – these include Dorcatragus (beira), Ourebia (oribi), Madoqua (dik dik), Oreotragus (klipspringer) and Raphicerus.[6] The tribe has been shown to be paraphyletic.[7][8] A 2014 phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome b sequences and linear skull measurements showed polyphyly in Neotragus. The royal antelope is not closely related to the other two species in its genus – suni (N. moschatus) and Bates's pygmy antelope (N. batesi). The latter two are closely related, while the royal antelope is likely to have had an ancestor in common with the klipspringer and duikers (subfamily Cephalophinae).[9]

Description
An illustration of the royal antelope from The Book of Antelopes (1894)

The royal antelope is the smallest antelope and ruminant in the world.[10][11][12][6] It is also the smallest African ungulate, followed by Bates's pygmy antelope;[13][14][15] The royal antelope reaches merely 25 centimetres (10 in) at the shoulder and weighs 2.5–3 kilograms (5.5–6.6 lb).[12] The head-and-body length is typically 40 centimetres (16 in). A characteristic feature is the long and slender legs, with the hindlegs twice as long as the forelegs – a remarkable similarity to the hare.[12] The thin tail, 5–8 centimetres (2.0–3.1 in) long, is white on the underside, ending in a white tuft. The species is sexually dimorphic, with females being larger than males. Only males possess horns, these being short, smooth, ventrally reflexed spikes measuring 2.5–3 centimetres (1.0–1.2 in) long.[2][12][16]

The soft coat is reddish to golden brown, in sharp contrast with the white ventral 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 slim muzzle, and a large grayish pink rhinarium.[12][16]

Ecology and behaviour

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 metres (9.2 ft) in a single leap, and rise as high as 55 centimetres (22 in) above the ground.[17] It is typically nocturnal (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 the preorbital glands, which are used for scent-marking, could indicate that marking behaviour is not very prominent in this antelope.[12]

Diet

A herbivore, the royal antelope prefers small quantities of fresh foliage and shoots; fruits and fungi may be taken occasionally. Though the antelope is considered to be nocturnal, zoologist Jonathan 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 of lignified growth. Individuals may often move into new locations foraging for fresh growth.[6]

Reproduction

Like other neotragines, the royal antelope is monogamous, though polygamy has been occasionally observed.[12] Individuals of both sexes have been known to reach sexual 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 kilogram (1.8–2.2 lb) – nearly a third of an adult's weight. Young appear similar to adults in colouration.[17][18] The maximum lifespan of a captive royal antelope was estimated at six years and eight months by a 1993 study.[21]

Habitat and distribution

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 as Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The animal's habitat also includes forest fringes and secondary forests. Its geographic range extends eastward from the Kounounkan Massif in southwestern Guinea through Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire to the Volta 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 and savannah habitats.[1][19]

Threats and conservation

The royal antelope has been categorised as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). In 1999, Rod East of 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 feared to be declining due to habitat deterioration and expanding human settlement. A significant threat to the survival of this antelope is hunting for bushmeat; 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 the Tai National Park, Haut Bandama Fauna and Flora Reserve and Mabi-Yaya Classified Forest (Côte d'Ivoire); Kakum National Park and Assin-Attandanso Game Production Reserve (Ghana); Ziama and Diecke Forest Reserves (Guinea); Tiwai Island and Gola Rainforest National Park (Sierra Leone).[1]

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References
  1. IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2016). "Neotragus pygmaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14602A50190835. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14602A50190835.en. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. Groves, C.; Grubb, P. (2011). Ungulate Taxonomy. Baltimore, Maryland (USA): Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 144, 147. ISBN 978-1-4214-0093-8.
  3. Grubb, P. (2005). "Order Artiodactyla". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 685–686. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  4. Craig, J. (1848). A New Universal Etymological Technological, and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language: Embracing All the Terms Used in Art, Science and Literature, Volume 2. London, UK: Henry George Collins. p. 220.
  5. Beddard, F.E. (2015). The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X. Mammalia. The Library of Alexandria. ISBN 978-1-5115-9533-9.
  6. Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (2013). Mammals of Africa. Volume VI : Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids. London, UK: Bloomsbury. pp. 206, 210–4. ISBN 9781408122570.
  7. Matthee, C.A.; Robinson, T.J. (1999). "Cytochrome b phylogeny of the family Bovidae: Resolution within the Alcelaphini, Antilopini, Neotragini, and Tragelaphini". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 12 (1): 31–46. doi:10.1006/mpev.1998.0573. PMID 10222159.
  8. Rebholz, W.; Harley, E. (1999). "Phylogenetic relationships in the bovid subfamily Antilopinae based on mitochondrial DNA sequences". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 12 (2): 87–94. doi:10.1006/mpev.1998.0586. PMID 10381312.
  9. Bärmann, E.V.; Schikora, T. (2014). "The polyphyly of Neotragus – Results from genetic and morphometric analyses". Mammalian Biology – Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde. 79 (4): 283–6. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2014.01.001.
  10. Ganeri, A.; Gibbs, B. (1990). Nature Facts & Lists (Omnibus ed.). London, UK: Usborne. p. 40. ISBN 9780746006467.
  11. Soest, P.J.V. (1994). Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant (2nd ed.). Ithaca, New York (USA): Cornell University Press. p. 29. ISBN 9780801427725.
  12. Rafferty, J.P. (2011). Grazers (1st ed.). New York, USA: Britannica Educational Publications. pp. 93–4. ISBN 9781615303366.
  13. Kilson, M. (1976). Royal Antelope and Spider : West African Mende Tales. Cambridge (UK): Press of the Langdon Associates. p. 42. ISBN 9780916704018.
  14. Dorst, J. (1972). A Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa (2nd ed.). New York City: Harper Collins. p. 260. ISBN 9780002192941.
  15. Briggs, P. (2008). East African Wildlife: a Visitor's Guide. Chalfont St Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. p. 119. ISBN 9781841622088.
  16. Castelló, J.R. (2016). Bovids of the World: Antelopes, Gazelles, Cattle, Goats, Sheep, and Relatives. Princeton, New Jersey (USA): Princeton University Press. pp. 36–7. ISBN 978-0-691-16717-6.
  17. Owen, J. (1973). "Behaviour and diet of a captive royal antelope, Neotragus pygmaeus L.". Mammalia. 37 (1): 56–65. doi:10.1515/mamm.1973.37.1.56. ISSN 1864-1547.
  18. Huffman, B. " Neotragus pygmaeus Royal antelope". Ultimate Ungulate. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  19. Kingdon, J. (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London, UK: Bloomsbury. pp. 524–5. ISBN 9781472912367.
  20. Njaa, B.L. (2012). Kirkbride's Diagnosis of Abortion and Neonatal Loss in Animals (4th ed.). Chichester, West Sussex (UK): Wiley-Blackwell. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-470-95852-0.
  21. Jones, M. L. (1993). "Longevity of ungulates in captivity". International Zoo Yearbook. 32 (1): 159–69. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.1993.tb03529.x.
  22. East, R.; IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (1999). African antelope database 1998. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN Species Survival Commission. pp. 269–70. ISBN 978-2-8317-0477-7.

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