Salt's Dik-dik
Encyclopedia
Salt's Dik-dik is a small antelope
found in semi-desert vegetation, bushland and thickets in the Horn of Africa
, but marginally also northern Kenya
and eastern Sudan
.
s, the small, pointed horns are only present in the male. The colour varies significantly depending on the subspecies (see Taxonomy).
, this species forms the subgenus Madoqua in the genus Madoqua (other dik-dik
s are also in the genus Madoqua, but the subsgenus Rhynchotragus). The taxonomy
of this subgenus is complex and a matter of dispute. Today the most widely used treatment is based on a review in 1978, but a significantly different treatment was presented in a review in 1972. Following the review in 1978, the Silver Dik-dik is treated as a separate monotypic
species, and the Salt's Dik-dik has 5 subspecies
:
In 2003 it was proposed that each of the above represent an evolutionary species, but at present most maintain them as subspecies. The review in 1972 differed significantly from the above. Under that treatment, three species are recognized in the subgenus Madoqua: Salt's Dik-dik (M. saltiana with the subspecies saltiana and cordeauxi), Phillip's Dik-dik (M. phillipsi with the subspecies phillipsi, gubanensis, hararensis and lawrencei) and Swayne's Dik-dik (M. swaynei with the subspecies swaynei, erlangeri and piancentinii
). Of these taxa, cordeauxi, gubanensis and erlangeri were considered entirely invalid
in 1978.
. Dominant animals flare their crest. Often found in pairs and small groups. Salt's dik-dik mainly eat leaves and shoots of acasia trees. Not much is known about the species' reproduction behavior.
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
found in semi-desert vegetation, bushland and thickets in the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
, but marginally also northern Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and eastern Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
Description
The Salt's Dik-dik's are 52–67 cm (20.5–26.4 in) long, 33–41 cm (13–16.1 in) high and weigh 2.5–4 kg (5.5–8.8 lb). As in other dik-dikDik-dik
A dik-dik, pronounced "dĭk’ dĭk", is a small antelope in the Genus Madoqua that lives in the bushes of eastern and southern Africa. Dik-diks stand 30–40 cm at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm long, weigh 3–6 kg and can live for up to 10 years...
s, the small, pointed horns are only present in the male. The colour varies significantly depending on the subspecies (see Taxonomy).
Taxonomy
Together with the closely related Silver Dik-dikSilver Dik-dik
The Silver Dik-dik is a small antelope found in low, dense thickets along the southeastern coast of Somalia and in Acacia-Commiphora bushland in the Shebelle Valley in southeastern Ethiopia. It is the smallest species of dik-dik with a length of , a height of and a weight of...
, this species forms the subgenus Madoqua in the genus Madoqua (other dik-dik
Dik-dik
A dik-dik, pronounced "dĭk’ dĭk", is a small antelope in the Genus Madoqua that lives in the bushes of eastern and southern Africa. Dik-diks stand 30–40 cm at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm long, weigh 3–6 kg and can live for up to 10 years...
s are also in the genus Madoqua, but the subsgenus Rhynchotragus). The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of this subgenus is complex and a matter of dispute. Today the most widely used treatment is based on a review in 1978, but a significantly different treatment was presented in a review in 1972. Following the review in 1978, the Silver Dik-dik is treated as a separate monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
species, and the Salt's Dik-dik has 5 subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
:
- M. saltiana saltiana: Found from northern EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
to EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and far eastern SudanSudanSudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. It is relatively large with a reddish-grey back. - M. saltiana hararensis: Found in the HarargheHarargheHararghe was a province in the eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital in Harar. Including Ethiopia's part of the Ogaden, Haraghe was bounded on the south by Sidamo, southwest by Arsi, west by Shewa, northwest by Wollo, northeast by French Somaliland, and on the east by Somalia.Hararghe came...
region in eastern Ethiopia. It has a gingery back and dark red flanks. - M. saltiana lawrenci: Found in eastern and southeastern SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. It has a silvery back and russetRusset (color)Russet is a dark brown color with a reddish-orange tinge.The first recorded use of russet as a color name in English was in 1562.The source of this color is the ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Color Names --Color dictionary used by stamp collectors to identify the colors of stampsThe name of the color...
flanks. - M. saltiana phillipsi: Found in northern Somalia. Its back is grey and the flanks are orange.
- M. saltiana swaynei: Found in the Jubba ValleyJubba RiverThe Jubba River is a river in southern Somalia. It begins at the border with Ethiopia, where the Dawa and Ganale Dorya rivers meet, and flows directly south to the Indian Ocean, where it empties at the Goobweyn juncture.-History:...
region of southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia and far northern KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. The back is brown-grey.
In 2003 it was proposed that each of the above represent an evolutionary species, but at present most maintain them as subspecies. The review in 1972 differed significantly from the above. Under that treatment, three species are recognized in the subgenus Madoqua: Salt's Dik-dik (M. saltiana with the subspecies saltiana and cordeauxi), Phillip's Dik-dik (M. phillipsi with the subspecies phillipsi, gubanensis, hararensis and lawrencei) and Swayne's Dik-dik (M. swaynei with the subspecies swaynei, erlangeri and piancentinii
Silver Dik-dik
The Silver Dik-dik is a small antelope found in low, dense thickets along the southeastern coast of Somalia and in Acacia-Commiphora bushland in the Shebelle Valley in southeastern Ethiopia. It is the smallest species of dik-dik with a length of , a height of and a weight of...
). Of these taxa, cordeauxi, gubanensis and erlangeri were considered entirely invalid
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
in 1978.
Behavior
Salt's Dik-dik are shy; they are active at night and dusk to avoid the midday heat. They are crepuscularCrepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
. Dominant animals flare their crest. Often found in pairs and small groups. Salt's dik-dik mainly eat leaves and shoots of acasia trees. Not much is known about the species' reproduction behavior.