Walter's Duiker (Philantomba walteri Colyn, 2010): A Literature Review on a Recently Identified and Potentially Vulnerable Species

ABSTRACT Based on recent taxonomic and molecular tools, the Walter's duiker (Philantomba walteri Colyn, 2010), endemic to the Dahomey Gap in West Africa, has been recognized as a new species in 2010. This species is largely hunted and may already be threatened by extinction. This review paper aims to synthesize the current knowledge on this species, covering its taxonomy, morphology, biology, ecology, diet, seed dispersal role, reproduction patterns, activity rate, parasitology, spatial distribution, habitats, population densities, and ongoing human pressures. We carried out an exhaustive literature search using nine databases, going through 1200 initial references to finally retain a total of only 11 research articles mentioning Walter's duiker. Very few publications exist on the species due to its recent discovery. Existing studies focus on feeding, parasitology, and hunting pressure. Walter's duiker distribution range extends over Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. The species is hunted in a large part of its range, including in the reserves that are supposed to protect it. We synthesize the biological information related to the Maxwell's duiker as well as the Walter's duiker, as historically, these two species have been confounded and are morphologically similar. Our synthesis also highlights the scientific gaps for a better understanding of the biology of this species, and it proposes priority themes for future research. Priority should be given to studying the diet composition of Walter's duiker by analyzing rumens and feces, its role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration, its home range and activity rate, and the estimation of its abundance. All these information together would allow to thoroughly assess the species status and contribute to its conservation. The Dahomey Gap, a dry corridor, divides the African tropical rainforests into distinct blocks. With an annual rainfall below 1200 mm, it hosts savannas, crops, and isolated fragments of gallery forests, swamp forests, and semi‐deciduous forests. Despite strong human influence, the discovery of Walter's duiker in 2010—a small antelope intermediate between the blue duiker and Maxwell's duiker—highlighted its unique endemism. However, hunting pressure, habitat loss, and climate change threaten its existence in this region. Eleven studies aimed at its conservation cover species description, identification during wildlife surveys, meat safety risks, gastrointestinal parasites, and hunting methods. Yet, c