Description
The black-fronted duiker is a compact, short-necked, and active antelope that gets its name from the broad black streak that runs from the nose to its forehead, a feature distinguishing it from its congeners. It has a glossy coat that is deep reddish-mahogany to a lighter orange-chestnut in colour, the hair becoming sparser and darker on the long legs. It has a short tail that is black with a white tip and short, pointed horns, measuring , which are carried by both sexes and are used for defense against other duikers and predators. Their elongated hooves appear to be an adaptation to the wet habitats they seem to prefer. It weighs and has a shoulder height of .Distribution
The black-fronted duiker is found in central and west-central Africa, with an isolated population in the Niger Delta in easternHabitat
The black-fronted duiker occurs in montane, lowland, and swamp forests, from near sea level up to an altitude of . It is frequently recorded in wetter areas such as marshes or on the margins of rivers or streams.Habits
The black-fronted duiker is territorial and monogamous, each pair owning a territory that it defends against neighbours and is marked using the secretions of the facial glands. The pair have habitual paths within their territory that connect sleeping sites with feeding areas and allow them to be active during both day and night. They are mainly browsers but will also feed on fruit.Subspecies
The currently recognised subspecies are: *''Cephalophus nigrifrons fosteri'' St. Leger, 1934 *''Cephalophus nigrifrons hooki'' St. Leger, 1934 *''Cephalophus nigrifrons hypoxanthus'' Grubb and Groves, 2002 *''Cephalophus nigrifrons kivuensis'' Lönnberg, 1919 *''Cephalophus nigrifrons nigrifrons'' Gray, 1871 . *''Cephalophus nigrifrons rubidus'' Thomas, 1901: Ruwenzori duikerReferences
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:duiker, black-fronted black-fronted duiker Fauna of Central Africa black-fronted duiker black-fronted duiker