Madoqua sp.
Gunter's/Kirk's/Damara Dik Dik
Dik diks, any of several species of tiny antelope (genus Madoqua), are about 55-77 cm / 1.8-2.5 ft. long, 35-45 cm / 14-18 in. high, and weigh 2.7-6.5 kg / 5.9-14.3 lb. These tiny animals have almost no tail and a small tuft of hair on the head.
Both sexes have noticeably elongated noses that enhance their ability to withstand the heat of the bush. Their long proboscis (nose)acts as a heat exchange system to cool blood travelling to the brain. It allows venous blood to cool by evaporation from the mucous membrane into the nasal cavity during normal breathing or under great heat stress from nasal panting.
In order to conserve water, dik diks have very dry faeces and the most concentrated urine of all ungulates. This enables them to survive long periods without access to water.
Pairs of male and female establish lifelong territories that they mark with glands on their feet and heads. They mark their territory with dung (on the ground) and deposit a tarry secretion on to twigs from a pre-orbital gland (near their large eyes).
Males frequently 'horn' vegetation, and raise their crests as a threat display.
They generally feed from dawn to mid-morning and from mid-afternoon to evening.
Gender differences:
Only males bear the corrugated horns, which may grow up to 11.4 cm / 4.5 inches long and are slightly smaller than the hornless females.
Habitat:
Dik-diks thrive in the vegetation that invades disturbed areas such as slash-and-burn agriculture. They depend on dense bushy areas in which to hide. All four Dik-dik species live in dry bush and mixed grass-bush regions of East and Southwest Africa, that is, Northern and central Tanzania, central and southern Kenya, south-western Angola and Namibia.
Diet:
Dik-diks feed on green grass, young leaves, fruit, roots, tubers, and fallen leaves. They are able to survive on the moisture from the vegetation they eat, and may go for long periods without drinking. Because dik-diks are so small, their metabolic requirement per kilogram is high and they must consume more food per kilogram of body weight than larger hoofed mammals. They share a habitat with kudu, which keep the shrubs within one meter of the ground, and with zebra, which keep down the grass. This allows a food source to grow abundantly at an ideal level for the dik-dik. They require vegetation that is easily digested and low in fiber. The only moisture they consume for months at a time is the dew on vegetation and the little moisture in the vegetation.
Reproduction:
The breeding season occurs twice a year, with births peaking around November-December and April-May. Gestation lasts for 169-174 days producing a single offspring at a time. Differing from most other ruminants, the dik-dik is born with its forelegs laid back along-side its body, instead of them being stretched forward. After birth, kids lie concealed away from their mother for 2-3 weeks. The mother lactates for 6 weeks, feeding her young for no more than a couple of minutes at a time. The young are weaned after 6 weeks and fully grown by 7 months of age. Although they grow up with their parents, the young are forced to leave the territory at about seven months of age; mothers run off their daughters and fathers run their sons out of the territory. The first few times the father attempts to keep his son from approaching his mother, the father dashes for him and the son drops to the ground and exposes his neck as a sign of submission. He is then allowed to stay a little longer in the area, but will soon be forced to leave. The rate of survival for fawns is 50 percent. Females may bear up to two young per year. Female dik-diks are sexually mature at 6 months of age and males are ready to reproduce at 12 months. Life span: Up to 10 years
Other:
The main predators of dik diks are lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, hyena, wild dog, jackals, ratel, crocodile, python. Young are also taken by eagles, baboons and genets.
Their distinctive zig-zag path of escape and 'dik-dik' call of alarm have earned them their name.
There are four species of dik dik :
Madoqua guentheri
Madoqua kirki
Madoqua piacentinii
Madoqua saltiana
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