[en] Based on recent taxonomic and molecular tools, the Walter's duiker (Philantomba walteri Colyn, 2010), endemic to the Dahomey Gap in West Africa, has been recognized as a new species in 2010. This species is largely hunted and may already be threatened by extinction. This review paper aims to synthesize the current knowledge on this species, covering its taxonomy, morphology, biology, ecology, diet, seed dispersal role, reproduction patterns, activity rate, parasitology, spatial distribution, habitats, population densities, and ongoing human pressures. We carried out an exhaustive literature search using nine databases, going through 1200 initial references to finally retain a total of only 11 research articles mentioning Walter's duiker. Very few publications exist on the species due to its recent discovery. Existing studies focus on feeding, parasitology, and hunting pressure. Walter's duiker distribution range extends over Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. The species is hunted in a large part of its range, including in the reserves that are supposed to protect it. We synthesize the biological information related to the Maxwell's duiker as well as the Walter's duiker, as historically, these two species have been confounded and are morphologically similar. Our synthesis also highlights the scientific gaps for a better understanding of the biology of this species, and it proposes priority themes for future research. Priority should be given to studying the diet composition of Walter's duiker by analyzing rumens and feces, its role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration, its home range and activity rate, and the estimation of its abundance. All these information together would allow to thoroughly assess the species status and contribute to its conservation.
Disciplines :
Zoology
Author, co-author :
Sahgui, Eltsine Marat Clauzels ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre ; École Régionale d'Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés Des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux (ERAIFT) Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lhoest, Simon ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT
Fonteyn, Davy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion des ressources forestières ; CIRAD, UPR Forêts et Sociétés Campus International de Baillarguet Montpellier Cedex 5 France ; Forêts et Sociétés Univ Montpellier, CIRAD Montpellier France
Daïnou, Kasso ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion des ressources forestières ; National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) Brussels Belgium
Michaux, Johan ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Integrative Biological Sciences (InBioS)
Vermeulen, Cédric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Gestion des ressources forestières ; École Régionale d'Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés Des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux (ERAIFT) Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo
Language :
English
Title :
Walter's Duiker (Philantomba walteri Colyn, 2010): A Literature Review on a Recently Identified and Potentially Vulnerable Species.
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