Diversity and variability of the diet of Walter duiker's (Philantomba walteri, Bovidae, Colyn,2010) in the forests of Southern Benin

Abstract

Walter's duiker (Philantomba walteri) is endemic to the Dahomey Gap area. Very rare, and very hunted, its diet is very diversified. The objective of this research is to determine the composition of Walter’s duiker diet in the forests of southern Benin. Observations using the linear transect method in the natural environment were made. In addition, individual questionnaires were sent to hunters, farmers, and forest agents in villages bordering the forests of southern Benin. Thus, twenty-nine (29) plant species divided into twenty genera and twenty-nine families have been recorded. The most represented family is the Euphorbiaceae with 5 species (Mallotus oppositiliformis, Hymenocardia acida, Manihot esculenta, Alchornea cordifolia). The diet of forest Walter's duiker South Benin is made up of Eight (8) types of plant organs for all 29 plant species consumed. It is mainly dominated by the leaves (29 species, 100%), the bark (72%), the fruits (27%), and the stems (24%) which constitute the most palatable organs. Regarding the chorology of palatable species, taxa from the Guinean-Congolese (GC) regions are the most palatable with a proportion of (20.68%). They are followed by taxa from the Sudano-Zambezi (SZ) and Pantropical (Pan) regions with each a proportion of (13.79%). Walter’s duiker eats 58.62% dicot and 41.37% monocot. It, therefore, has a varied diet. It is therefore desirable to deepen research on the diet in order to propose a better habitat restoration method for this species.