Average Weight & Size

The Common Duiker is a small antelope, with males weighing on average 12–18 kg and females slightly heavier at 15–20 kg. Shoulder height ranges between 45–60 cm. Their life expectancy is around 10–12 years in the wild.

Identification

The Common Duiker is a small, compact antelope with a slightly rounded back and short legs. Its coat colour varies from grey-brown to reddish-brown, depending on the region. The underside, throat, and inside of the legs are lighter in colour. A distinctive feature is the small tuft of hair between the horns.

Difference between Male and Female:
Only the males carry short, sharp horns, while females are hornless and slightly larger in build.

Habits

Common Duikers inhabit a wide range of environments including bushveld, savanna, woodland, forest edges, and thickets. They prefer areas with dense cover and are not strictly water dependent, obtaining most of their moisture from the food they eat.

They are mostly solitary or found in pairs, and are shy, secretive animals. Duikers are active primarily during the early morning and late afternoon, although they may also move at night. When startled, they freeze momentarily before darting into dense cover, using zigzag movements to evade predators. Their diet consists of grasses, leaves, fruit, seeds, and shoots, making them versatile browsers and grazers.

Breeding

A single young is born after a gestation period of about 6–7 months. Births may occur at any time of the year. The newborn remains well-hidden in thick vegetation for the first few weeks while the mother returns periodically to nurse it. This hiding strategy greatly improves the infant’s chances of survival.