Order: Artiodactyla Family:
Bovidae
Scientific name: Cephalophus zebra U.S.
common name: Striped-backed
duiker
Other names: Zebra duiker, banded
duiker
Status in the wild: Classified as vulnerable by
IUCN
Major threats: Habitat loss and bush meat
trade Geographic range currently: Western Sierra Leone to the
central Ivory Coast Habitat: Favors lowland forest but may
also live in low montane and hill forests.
Circadian cycle: Crepuscular and
nocturnal Size General range male female birth Head to rump length: 700-900
mm Tail length: 100-150 mm Head & tail length: 800-1050 mm Shoulder height: 400-500 mm Weight: 9-20 kg 1 kg
Sexual dimorphism: Females are slightly larger than males. Both
sexes carry horns with male’s horns 40-50 mm long, and female’s horns 20-25 mm
long. Reproduction Mating Season: Aseasonal Birthing season: Aseasonal Gestation period: 221-229 days Courtship: Males engage in persistent
following and licking of the female’s vulva. Urinating females squat deeply,
and males make a weak grimace while urine-testing. It is
common in captivity for a male to drive the female relentlessly, nudging,
licking, and biting her posterior until the vulva become red and swollen; to chase
her hard when she flees, threatening and sometimes butting her; and to prod her
with feet and horns when she lies down. Unreceptive females try to
ward off a driving male by presenting her horns or by symbolic biting, and may
bleat in distress. Both sexes may give soft calls during
courtship. Copulation: Copulation is brief at 1-3
seconds, and the male holds his head up.
Number of mammae: Four Sexual maturity: Females at 9-12 months, and
males at 12-18 months. Rearing and
young Young called: Calf Number of young (range): One, rarely two First leave
pouch/den/hide/nest: Calf lies concealed, away from the dam for 2-3 months. Weaned: At the latest, 5 months. General Life expectancy: 10-12 years Social structure: They are sedentary and are
found alone or in pairs. Unique behavior(s): Females mark their young with
a secretion from the maxillary gland, which may facilitate distinguishing and
recognizing their young. Safety
depends on concealment, duikers may freeze mid-stride, sink down in place when
approached by an enemy if not detected or dashes a short distance into
cover. Coat & coloration: The coat is a light yellow to
a reddish yellow, the underparts are a cream color. The nape of the neck and
lower legs are darker reddish- brown. Upper
legs are almost black. The forelock is short or lacking and there are 12-15
vertical stripes on the body. Dental Formula: 0/3 I, 0/1 C, 3/2-3 PM, 3/3 M
= 30-32 total. Diet: Leaves, buds, young shoots, grasses,
herbs, berries, fruit, termites, ants, snails, eggs, and probably also
birds. Sources Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.) 1999.Walker’s
Mammals of the World Vol. 2 (6th edition).The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
and London. Grzimek, Bernhard 1990. Grzimek’s Encyclopedia of Mammals, Vol. 5. McGraw-Hill Publishing
Company, New York. Estes, Richard D. 1991. The Behavior Guide to
African Mammals. The University of
California Press, Berkeley. Kingdon, Jonathan 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London. Alden, Peter C. et al. 1995. National Audubon Society Field Guide to
African Wildlife. Alfred A. Knopf,
Inc., New York.