By Adam Randall
Geographic Range
Neotragus batesi occurs throughout the lowland forest zone from southeastern Nigeria to western Uganda.
Habitat
Neotragus batesi is most often found in moist forest and brush.
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest 
.
Physical Description
(4.4 to 6.6 lbs; avg. 5.5 lbs)
Bate's dwarf antelopes are very small antelopes weighing from 2-3 kg. Body length ranges between 500 and 575 mm, with a tail length of 45 to 50 mm. Dwarf antelope males possess horns that extend back over their head on the same plane as the face. These horns are usually brown or fawn in color and are about 38 to 50 mm long. The coat is a shiny dark chestnut on the back becoming lighter toward the flanks. Males are only slightly larger, on average, than females.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Mating occurs throughout the year with peaks in the late dry and early wet seasons. The gestation period of N. batesi is thought to be 180 days. One young is born per gestation with a birth weight of between 1.6 and 2.4 kg.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Bate's dwarf antelopes have a typical home range of 2 to 4 hectares. Males are territorial, marking their territory with scent that is produced in the preorbital glands. Females are not as territorial as the males and are sometimes found in small groups. Males emit a nasal call when seeking females and both sexes often make a short, raspy bark when fleeing.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
Food Habits
The diet of N. batesi consists of leaves, buds, shoots, fungus, and limited amounts of grasses and herbs. They also eat human food crops, such as peanuts, in areas where humans have intruded into their natural habitats. They are often caught in snares surrounding agricultural fields.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Bate's dwarf antelopes are known to eat crops such as peanuts. The overall economic damage from this herbivory is minimal.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The meat of N. batesi is edible, although quite dry. They are not often hunted for meat but, in some cases, farmers will kill and eat limited numbers.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Near Threatened.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
The biggest current threat to Bate's dwarf antelopes is human expansion. The loss of habitat due to clearing for farmland could have a very negative effect on their populations in the future.
(Grizmek 1988; Nowak 1999)
For More Information
Find Neotragus batesi information at
Contributors
Adam Randall (author), St. Lawrence University.
Erika Barthelmess (editor), St. Lawrence University.
