# Duiker (*Cephalophinae*) Duikers are small antelopes found in forests and dense bushlands. They have short horns and are excellent at hiding from predators. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Forest Antelope ![Duiker](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426371/objects/6057.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Cephalophus ## 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 - **Bush Dive:** Duiker can quickly 'dive' into dense vegetation because of their compact body, helping them escape predators. - **Acute Hearing:** Duiker has large, pointed ears that help them detect the faintest sounds of predators approaching through thick cover. - **Camouflage Master:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/olive-baboon) (*Papio anubis*) — Duikers forage for fruit dropped by baboons. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Duikers are timid and will run away from humans. Watch them from a distance to not scare them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Duiker? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Duiker? 35-75 cm ### How much does Duiker weigh? 4-60 kg ### How long does Duiker live? 8-15 years ### How fast can Duiker move? 60 km/h ### What does Duiker eat? Duikers eat many plants, fruits, seeds, and sometimes even small animals like insects. ### Where is Duiker usually found? Forests ### How does Duiker hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Duiker: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/duiker)