Brooke's duiker is sometimes considered a subspecies of Ogilby's duiker (Cephalophorus ogilbyi), although whether their similarities are due to shared ancestry or convergence is still debated. Here, it is considered a separate species.

Head and body length: Approximately 90 cm

Shoulder height: Approximately 50 cm

Tail length: Approximately 12 cm

Adult weight: Approximately 14-20 kg

Brooke's duiker is a uniform reddish-gold color with pale yellow underparts. A black dorsal stripe begins around the shoulders and narrows to a point 7-10 cm from the base of the tail. This stripe may range from 2-6.6 cm at its widest point. The tail has a terminal tuft of mixed black and white hairs. The legs are reported to be pale, although the fronts of the forelegs may be darkened. Near the shoulders, a patch of hair on the neck grows in a reversed pattern (towards the head) for ~10 cm. The face and tuft of hair between the horns are golden, similar to the body. Both sexes have short, spike-like horns that sweep back in line with the forehead. Horns in males may grow 5.1-9.3 cm long; one male specimen had horns with a basal diameter of 2.6 cm. Females also have horns, but they are smaller, 2.3-4.0 cm long.

Similar species

• Ogilby's duiker (Cephalophorus ogilbyi) is slightly larger and darker, and is best distinguished by distribution. The dorsal stripe of Brooke's duiker does not extend onto the tail.
• The bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis) shares its range with Brooke's duiker and the two are regularly confused in the field. Brooke's duiker is more orange in coloration, has a narrower muzzle, and a less-pronounced dorsal stripe which does not extend onto the nape of the neck or the tail.

Nothing is known about the breeding or development of Brooke's duiker, although the reproductive biology is likely similar to other Cephalophorus duikers. Young animals are reported to be darker than adults, particularly on their foreheads, forequarters, and limbs.

Brooke's duiker is very poorly studied. Camera trap encounters show that this species is primarily active during daylight hours (0600h-1800h), with a peak of observations around 1000h. Similarly, a single captive animal was active for 58% of daylight hours, but only 17% of nighttime hours. Territoriality is unknown, but there are reports of dung middens being used.

Family group: Generally solitary.

Diet: Primarily fruits and seeds, also flowers and leaves.

Main Predators: Undocumented - likely large carnivores such as leopard.

Brooke's duiker is endemic to the Upper Guinea forest block in west Africa, from Sierra Leone (possibly Guinea) to Ghana. It is most common in undisturbed and mature forest, with a preference for higher altitudes noted in Liberia. The approximate range is depicted in the map below.

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (2016) as C. ogilbyi brookei

CITES Listing: Appendix II (2024)

Threats: Hunting for bushmeat, habitat loos due to logging and clearing for agriculture.

In 1999, the total population was estimated to be around 5,000 animals. In general, it is rarely encountered in camera trap surveys and bushmeat markets. Brooke's duiker is thought to be scarce across its distrubution, with a declining population.