630 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



Nyika Kirk Dikdik 



Rhynchotragus kirki nyikcs 



Native Names: Duruma, kivi; Talta, sha. 



Rhynchotragus kirki nyikce Heller, 1913, Smith. Misc. Coll., vol. 61, No. 7, 

 P- 3- 



Range. — From the eastern and northern slopes of 

 Mount KiUmanjaro northward in the desert nyikae to the 

 Tana River; westward on the slopes of the inland plateau 

 to an elevation of two thousand five hundred feet. 



The type of this race came from Ndi near the railway 

 station of Voi. In characters it resembles kirki most closely, 

 but the size is decidedly greater, equalling that of hindei 

 from which it differs by lighter coloration. The coloration 

 of the dorsal region is ochraceous-tawny, changing gradually 

 on the sides to buff. The whole dorsal region is vermicu- 

 lated by dusky annulations to the hair. The under-parts 

 are sharply defined against this vermiculated area by a wide 

 band of light ochraceous-buff succeeded by the pure white 

 of the median ventral area. The legs are uniform ochra- 

 ceous-tawny. The tail is buffy-gray vermiculated by dusky, 

 and the posterior border of the thighs is clothed by long white 

 hair in sharp contrast to the buffy-gray rump and sides. 

 The head has the coronal crest ochraceous-tawny vermicu- 

 lated only in the central part by dusky, and the snout is 

 lighter, being cinnamon-buff. The orbital area is white with 

 a blackish diagonal streak extending through the eye to the 

 anteorbital gland. The sides of the head are buffy faintly 

 vermiculated with dusky. The back of the ears is buffy, 

 and the inner side, the chin, and the lips are white. The 

 forethroat is pure ochraceous-buff, but the middle throat is 

 vermiculated heavily with dusky like nape. 



The body size equals that of hindei. The largest horns 

 in a series of three males are: length, straight, 3 inches; 

 spread at tips, 2^ inches. 



Specimens have been examined from the Voi district, 

 Maji ya Chumvi, and from Taveta on the southeastern 

 slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. 



