blue duiker

The blue duiker is a small, bluish-gray antelope native to southern and equatorial Africa. It is about the size of a large hare, with the blue duiker (C. monticola) being one of the smallest antelopes, standing only 36 cm (14 inches) high at the shoulder and weighing around 5 kg (11 pounds).12

Duikers, a tribe of forest-dwelling antelopes found only in Africa, are known for their sudden, headlong flight when startled, which gives them their name, derived from the Afrikaans "duikerbok" meaning "diving buck". They are compact with short necks, powerful hindquarters, sturdy legs, and short tails. Most have grizzled hair and cryptic coloration for camouflage. A distinctive feature is an erectile tuft of hair on their crown, and both sexes typically possess short horns.2

Duikers are primarily fruit-eaters, but also consume leaves, flowers, fungi, insects, and small vertebrates. They live in monogamous pairs that defend a territory.2