bovidae
Cetartiodactyla
Mammalia
4 months
1
Mainly leaves, shoots and stems, although they can also include insects and eggs in their diet.
About 20 years
Duiker means diver (in Afrikaans) due to this shy animal's habit of diving into the undergrowth when scared.
At dawn, the pair of blue duikers walk the forest floor of their small territory, marking stones and branches with the secretion of the glands on their face and hooves. During the day, they will selectively search for fruits and tender leaves, following the trail of food left in their wake by groups of monkeys and some birds.
The couple shares the care of their only calf, which will remain with them for 18 months. The mother and calf remain in contact through soft vocalizations and will remain motionless in the face of any danger. The male's sounds warn his family of any danger, and indicates his movements to other neighboring pairs.
