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COMMON DUIKER
(Sylvicapra grimmia)

Ger: Buschducker.
Fre: Cephalophe commun.
Afr: Gewane duiker.
Xho, Zul: Impunzi.

Mass: 15-25 kg.
Shoulder height: 0,45-0,6 m.
Tail length: 10-22 cm.
ID Pointers:
- Ponytail-like crest of hair on top of head.
- Black blaze on face.
- Narrow snout.
Lifespan: +/- 10 yrs.
Top 10 Predators:
1. Leopard
2. Wild Dog
3. Cheetah
4. Lion
5. Baboon
6. Pythons
7. Caracal
8. Crocodile
9. Serval
10. Brown Hyaena

DESCRIPTION:
- Upperparts are a mixture of grey, red & yellow.
- Underparts are white.
- Dark blaze on face.
- Tail is black with some white & is white underneath.
Scent glands: Preorbital, hoof & inguinal.
Senses: Very good hearing, smell & sight.
Horns: Only rams have horns which are straight & heavily ridged with smooth tips. Length: 10-18 cm.

DISTRIBUTION IN KNP:
Widespread.

BEHAVIOUR:
Diurnal & nocturnal. Solitary, defending territories of 0,2 km2 which are marked by rubbing against bushes & grasses.
Calls:
- Snorts.
- Bleats.
Alarm signals:
- Sneaking into cover.
- Freezing.
- Ducking.
- Lieing low.
- Fleeing in zigzag leaps.

REPRODUCTION:
A single lamb of 1,4-1,9 kg is born after a gestation of 7 months. Breeding in summer.

FOOD:
Flowers, shoots, leaves, fruits, seeds, pods, cultivated crops, termites, carrion, bulbs, tubers, roots & even birds!

HABITAT:
Wide habitat tolerance. Prefers savanna woodland.

Sources:
- Field Guide to the mammals of the Kruger National Park by Heike Schutze.
- Field Guide to the larger mammals of Africa by Chris & Tilde Swart.

Found in the following SANParks:
- Addo Elephant National Park.
- Cambedoo National Park.
- Mountain Zebra National Park.
- West Coast National Park.
- Table Mountain National Park.
- Tankwa-Karoo National Park.
- Karoo National Park.
- Namaqua National Park.
- Richtersveld National Park.
- Kgaligadi Transfronteir National Park.
- Marakele National Park.
- Mapungubwe National Park.
- Golden Gate National Park.
- Kruger National Park.

Any photo's?

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Seen on the H5

For Arks ! It seems these guys are difficult to photograph so I guess I can consider myself rather lucky with this pic.

We saw this one on the Maroela loop last year. The year before we saw 2 (S39 and S36) but they disappeared to quick for a decent pic.


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I had a look through my photos.
Common duiker really always give me a hard time. Like Arks said, as soon as you stop they are gone in seconds.

I took this pic during our Kruger trip 2005:

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And this one during our recent trip near Pretoriuskop:

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On S25


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Nice photo!

Shame, his face isn't very well groomed...

I agree WAC..nice pic..but what is on his face? Are those maybe scent glands....or flies???

Looks like a whole bunch of ticks

You are right.. as you can see these are tics and I wanted to pull them out as well.. poor thing..


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That is a great photo, but it would have been so much better if he was in a better condition... When did you see it?

Yes - better condition would be great.. but I would say that's life - as sad as it is.. (we even saw a Kudu which was in a very very bad condition having a HUGE tumor on his chin.. to see that made me almost cry.. )

We saw that duiker on S25, May 4th this year. Was around noon..

I suppose because duikers are generally solitary there is not much scope for allogrooming and yes in the bigger web of life I suppose ticks need food too as difficult as that is to accept

Yes murron I have also seen huge tumours on animals before and I must agree, it is very sad

A bit of a better groomed specimen just to lighten up the mood here.


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