Duiker

/ˈdaɪkər/

Duiker

a small to medium-sized antelope species found in Africa, characterized by their short, spiky horns and their ability to quickly dart through dense vegetation

What is a "duiker"?

Duikers are small to medium-sized antelope species that inhabit various habitats across Africa, including forests, savannas, and grasslands. They are known for their compact body shape, with short legs and a stocky build. Duikers typically have a reddish-brown or grayish-brown coat, and some species may display stripes or spots. They are shy and elusive animals, often seeking cover in dense vegetation, and are well-adapted for evading predators. Duikers are herbivores, primarily feeding on vegetation, fruits, and occasionally insects. They play an important role in African ecosystems as prey for predators and as seed dispersers for many plant species.

Examples

1. Captive duikers appear to play with living food, like a cat toying with a mouse.

2. One bay duiker in the Zurich zoo earned a reputation for stalking, killing, and eating pigeons that landed in its enclosure.

3. And there are tons of scientific reports of duikers and their relatives eating all sorts of small birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

4. In Angola, the yellow-backed duiker’s taste for flesh is infamous.

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