Duiker

Cephalophinae

Duikers are small antelopes found in forests and dense bushlands. They have short horns and are excellent at hiding from predators.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Duiker is a small to medium-sized antelope with a distinctive hunched back and short, often spiky, horns. Their coats vary widely, from reddish-brown to grey, sometimes with stripes or a yellow-backed saddle. They have large eyes and pointed ears.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderArtiodactylaFamilyBovidaeGenusCephalophus

Duiker

Interesting facts

Duikers often follow monkeys to snatch delicious fruit they accidentally drop from trees.

Some duiker species are known to eat insects, eggs, or even small birds!

The tiny Blue Duiker is one of the smallest antelopes in the entire world!

Their short horns are sometimes completely hidden by a furry crest of hair on their head!

Special abilities

Duiker can quickly 'dive' into dense vegetation because of their compact body, helping them escape predators.

Duiker has large, pointed ears that help them detect the faintest sounds of predators approaching through thick cover.

Duiker has a varied coat color that helps them blend perfectly into their forest or savanna environment.

Measurements & details

Length: 35-75 cm
Weight: 4-60 kg
Lifespan: 8-15 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Litter Size: 1
Gestation: 120-210 days

Diet & Feeding

Duikers eat many plants, fruits, seeds, and sometimes even small animals like insects.

Primary Foods

Fruits
Leaves
Shoots
Seeds
Insects
Small rodents

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Leopard

Panthera pardus

A primary predator of most duiker species.

eaten by

African Crowned Eagle

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Hunts smaller duiker species from the air.

eats

Cape Fig

Ficus sur

Duikers enjoy eating the fallen fruits of fig trees.

depends on

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

Duikers forage for fruit dropped by baboons.

Traits

Furry

Find adorable animals covered in a cozy coat of soft fur! Their fur helps them stay warm and protected in different environments.

Solitary

Meet animals that enjoy their independence! These creatures prefer to live by themselves, finding food and shelter on their own.

Horned

Look for animals that proudly wear horns, which are amazing natural crowns!

Camouflaged

Look closely for animals that are masters of disguise, blending perfectly into their surroundings! Their colors and patterns help them hide from others.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!