Average Mass:
1.5 kg (3.3 lb)

Average Shoulder Height:
25 cm (10")

Rowland Ward:
----------

SCI:
ED

Track: Size Not Available

The royal antelope occurs from Sierra Leone to Ghana (Wilson & Reeder, 1993; East, 1996). Its geographic range was obtained by joining the maps in Haltenorth & Diller (1980) and Kingdon (1971-77) and was revised by Dr. R. East ( 23 June '97 )

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

This species inhabits forest, forest clearings and cultivation. It also occurs in forest patches and gallery forest within forest-savanna mosaic areas (East, 1990; Kingdon, 1997).

Description: This is one of the smallest of the African ungulates, no larger than a rabbit (25-30 cm tall). The upper body is pale brown, becoming darker on the head and flanks, while the underparts are white. On the neck there is a red collar which interrupts the white color of the throat. The longish tail is white on the lower half and at the tip, and the upper half is reddish. The horns are very small, no more than 1 inch long, and grown only by the male. This antelope grows about two feet long, one foot high at the shoulder, and weighs less than ten pounds.

Behavior: This extremely shy nocturnal animal is difficult to observe because of its diminutive size and its dense forest habitat. Little is known about its life history. It lives either alone or in pairs, and feeds on leaves and fruit, and it frequently finds its way into peanut plantations. It moves very swiftly, and can jump up to nine feet.

This shy and poorly known antelope is listed as endangered.