Common Name:
Dik Dik
Scientific Name:
Madoqua sp.
Wild Status:
Least Threatened
Habitat:
Shrublands, savannas
Country:
Eastern and Southern Sfrica
Shelter:
bushes
Life Span:
10 years
Size:
1-1.5 ft tall, 1.5-2.5 ft long, 6-13.2 lb
Cool Facts:
- The name dik-dik comes from the alarming noises that female dik-diks make.
- They have predetermined runways in their territory that they use to flee when they feel threatened.
- Dik-diks have elongated snouts. This helps them thermal regulate, although they can tolerate high temperatures of up to 104 F.
- They are herbivorous but eat little to no grass. They mainly eat foliage, shoots, fruit and berries.
- When their young reach their full size at about 7 month, their parents kick them out of the territory. Males will run the male young out, while the females run out their female young.
Details:
Dik-diks belong to the genus Madoqua. There are four species of Dik-diks. They are small antelopes that inhibit Eastern and Southern Africa. Females are slightly larger than males and males have short horns. Dik-diks are Monogamous animals and rarely interact with other dik-dik pairs. They inhabit about 12 acres of territory . While they are not very aggressive towards other pairs, they constantly mark their territory with dung piles. Males will also cover the females dung with their own dung. Dik-diks also have a gland under their eye, which they stick stems and leaves into to scent-mark their territory.
Taxonomic Breakdown:
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetartiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Madoqua
Conservation & Helping:
The dik-dik is generally considered stable. In some communities, populations are decreasing in densely settled areas. Surprisingly, some dik-dik communities have been able to adjust in unconventional territories. With a number of growing agricultural developments, it is very likely that dik-diks will decrease in numbers in other areas so it is important that wildlife foundations and animal welfare government institutions work with their country's population to support the continued dik-dik populations.For Teachers and Educators
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