# Madoqua Madoquas, also known as dik-diks, are small antelopes that are very shy and quick. They have big eyes and a tiny nose, making them super cute and fun to watch in the wild. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Savannas - **Also known as:** Dik-dik ![Madoqua](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Madoqua_kirkii_-_male_%28Namutoni%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madoqua_kirkii_-_male_%28Namutoni%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Madoqua is a tiny antelope with a unique, flexible snout and large, dark eyes ringed with white. Its coat is grey-brown on top, fading to cream on its belly, with short, spiky horns only on males. A prominent tuft of hair sits between its ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Madoqua ## Interesting facts - Wow! Each Madoqua pair uses the same special toilet spot for years! - Wow! Madoquas have an extra-long nose that helps them grab tasty leaves! - Wow! Male and female Madoquas pair up for life, always staying together! - Wow! Special scent glands below their eyes help them mark their territory! ## Special abilities - **Scenty Sensors:** Madoqua has special glands that produce sticky scent, marking territory to communicate with other dik-diks. - **Zig-Zag Escape:** Madoqua can run in fast, unpredictable zig-zag patterns, helping them dodge predators in thick bush. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-70 cm - **Weight:** 3-7 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-10 years - **Speed:** 42 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 170-180 days ## Diet & Feeding A plant-eating expert, Madoqua nibbles on leaves, fruits, and flowers, getting all its water from food! - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Shoots, Fruits, Flowers, Seed Pods - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are primary predators, ambushing Madoqua in dense cover. - **Eaten by:** Black-backed Jackal (*Canis mesomelas*) — Jackals will hunt young or less vigilant Madoqua. - **Eaten by:** [Steppe Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/steppe-eagle) (*Aquila nipalensis*) — Young Madoqua are sometimes caught by large raptors. - **Eats:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Madoqua browse on the leaves and pods of various Acacia species. ## 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. - [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. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always observe animals from a distance to keep them safe and happy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Madoqua? 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 Madoqua? 50-70 cm ### How much does Madoqua weigh? 3-7 kg ### How long does Madoqua live? 3-10 years ### How fast can Madoqua move? 42 km/h ### What does Madoqua eat? A plant-eating expert, Madoqua nibbles on leaves, fruits, and flowers, getting all its water from food! ### Where is Madoqua usually found? Savannas ### How does Madoqua 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: [Madoqua: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/madoqua)