The Aders's duiker (Cephalophus adersi), also known as nunga in Swahili, kunga marara in Kipokomo and harake in Giriama, is a small, forest-dwelling duiker found only in Zanzibar and Kenya. It may be a subspecies of the red, Harvey's, or Peters's duiker or a hybrid of a combination of these. It is named after Dr. W. Mansfield Aders, a zoologist with the Zanzibar Government Service.
Characteristics[]
Aders's duiker is often described as one of the most beautiful antelopes. The body is covered with soft, silky hair. The back and rump are brownish-red in color, becoming increasingly gray on the neck. The undersides are bright white, and the line where the red and white meet on the sides is continued by a distinctive wide band of white that crosses the thighs and buttocks. The legs are reddish, turning black near the hooves; they are marked with irregular white spots, especially the front legs. The face has no distinct markings, but has a tuft of bright red hair on the forehead. Both sexes have short pointed horns; those of males grow 3-5 cm long, and those of females are only 1-3 cm in length.
Ecology and Behavior[]
Aders's duiker is primarily diurnal. Individuals begin feeding around dawn and continue until midday, when they stop to rest and ruminate. Foraging resumes mid-afternoon and continues until nightfall. Like many duikers, this species will follow birds or monkeys in order to feed on food items dropped from the trees. Aders's duiker can obtain sufficient moisture from its food and does not need to drink regularly. This species is very shy, alert, and has a keen sense of hearing.
Habitat and Distribution[]
Aders's duikers live in woodlands and thickets, where dense vegetation provides shelter. They are found in only three small areas: Boni-Dodori and Arabuko-Sukoke in Kenya, and in Zanzibar, Tanzania (on the large island of Unguja, as well as two introduced populations on Chumbe and Mnemba Islands). The approximate range is depicted in the map below.