Salt's dikdik
Madoqua saltiana
TAXONOMY
Antilope saltiana (Desmarest, 1816), Ethiopia. As many as six proposed subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Dik-dik de Salt; German: Eritrea-Dikdik; Spanish: Dik-dik de Salt.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Small, delicate antelope, with short, blunt muzzle. Length 19–24 in (49–60 cm); height 13–16 in (33–40 cm); weight 5.5–9 lb (2.5–4 kg). Fur on back is grayish brown and freckled, shading into a pale orange on sides and legs. Belly, interior of legs, underside of tail, and chin are white. Ears large and lined with white fur. Longer fur on head is reddish brown; conspicuous white ring around the eye. Horns on males up to 3.5 in (9 cm) and straight.
DISTRIBUTION
Restricted to arid bushlands and semi-desert scrub in Horn of Africa south from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia to northern Kenya. Occurs from sea level up to 5,000 ft (1,500m). Largest populations in Somalia and Ethiopia.
HABITAT
From evergreen bushlands to sub-desert scrub habitats, often found on valley bottoms and hillsides. Suggested densities in optimal habitat up to 36 per mi2 (14 per km2), but more typically 5–10 per mi2 (2–4 per km2).
BEHAVIOR
Families share territorial defense and all members use urine and dung to mark territory boundaries. Subordinate males and females mark dominant males with pre-orbital secretions in what is thought to be submissive behavior. Erection of crest of fur on head thought to be display of dominance by males and is often associated with a high-stepping strut and flashing of orange fur along limbs and flanks. Vocalizations include a double whistle used to warn other group members of approaching danger.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Browses on herbs, leaves, shoots, fruits, and roots often close to ground. Feeding occurs primarily at night and during early morning and late afternoon hours. Generally able to survive without access to open water.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Typically occurs as monogamous pairs or family groups of pairs with one or two young on territories of 10–50 acres (4–20 ha). Breeding pairs are likely stable over long periods. One young born after a gestation period estimated at five or six months. Weaning thought to occur at three to four months.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Lower Risk/Least Concern. Despite its restricted distribution, the global population is estimated in the hundreds of thousands. However, this animal is vulnerable to over-hunting, habitat alteration, and competition with domestic livestock. Numbers have declined in areas of high human settlement. Hunted with nets and snares.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Little is known about cultural significance of this species. Contributes to subsistence hunting throughout its range. Other economic significance is small.
| Common name / Scientific name/Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Guenther's dikdik Madoqua guentheri English: Guenther's long-snouted dikdik; French: Dik-Dik de Guenther; German: Günther Dikdik; Spanish: Dikdik de Gunther | Small and slender with extended, elastic nose. Coat grizzled gray mixed with brown, yellow, and white, with white undersides and red-orange crest of fur on head. Males with sharp, annulated horns up to 4.5 in. (9.8 cm), slanted backwards. Length 22–26 in (55–65 cm); height 14–18 in (35–45 cm); weight 8–12 lb (3.5–5.5 kg). | Dry brush and scrub habitats where thickets provide food and cover. Territorial, occurs in monogamous pairsor singly. | Locally common in parts of Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya. | Primarily a browser of green leaves, buds, and shoots. | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| Silver dikdik Madoqua piacentinii French: Dik-Dik d'argent; German: Piacentini Dikdik; Spanish: Dikdik de argentado | Smallest dikdik, with short, blunt muzzle. Back and sides grizzled silver with sandy-tan legs, undersides and crest. Males with short, sharp horns up to 3 in. (7 cm), slanted backwards. Length 17–20 in (45–52 cm); height 12–14 in (30–35 cm); weight 6–9 lb (2.5–4 kg). | Low, dense coastal scrub thickets. | Confined to the coastal plain of Somalia. | Browses on leaves, buds, and shoots. | Vulnerable |
| Royal antelope Neotragus pygmaeus French: Antilope royale; German: Kleinstbockchen; Spanish: Antílope de real | Smallest of the horned bovids; rabbit sized. Crouched in appearance. Reddish to golden brown fur, darker on head and along back; white on underside of body and tail and on chest and chin. Small horns up to one inch (2 cm) present on males and slanted backwards. Length 18–22 in (45–55 cm); height 9–12 in (22–30 cm); weight 4–8 lb (2–3.5 kg). | Dense undergrowth, forest, and forest edges in moist and humid environments. Occur singly or in pairs on small territories. Shy and secretive, hides to avoid detection and escapes with short bursts when approached. | Occurs patchily in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana. | Fresh leaves and buds, shoots, fungi, and fruit. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Suni Neotragus moschatus French: Antilope musquee; German: Moschusbockchen; Spanish: Suni | Crouched in appearance. Shiny fur is dark brown to rufous and speckled; white to gray undersides extending from tail to chin and including interior of limbs. Males possess thin, annulated horns up to 5 in (13 cm) and greatly enlarged facial glands. Length 22–25 in (55–63 cm); height 13–16 in (32–40 cm); weight 9–13 lb (4–6 kg). | Coastal forest and areas of heavy undergrowth. Occur as pairs or small polygynous groups on territories of 5–15 acres (2–6 ha). Males fiercely territorial, demarcate territories with scent, auditory and visual displays. Most active at night. | Occurs patchily east of the Rift Valley from Somalia to northeastern South Africa. | Browses on fresh leaves and shoots, flowers, roots, and fungi. | Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent |
| Sharpe's grysbok Raphicerus sharpei English: Sharpe's grysbuck, Sharpe's steinbok, Tropiese grysbok; French: Grysbok du Sharpe; German: Sharpegreisbock; Spanish: Grysbok de Sharpe | Body is reddish brown to tan speckled with white; whitish to gray face, throat and undersides. Large, white-lined ears; "skirt" of white-tipped fur extending over the hindquarters. Males with short conical horns up to 4 in (10 cm), widely spaced and vertical. Length 24–31 in (60–80 cm); height 16–24 in (40–60 cm); weight 15–26 lb (7–12 kg). | Prefers areas of considerable cover such as secondary growth, brush, riverine habitats, and thickets. Occur as pairs or singly on small territories demarcated with dung middens. Most active at night. | From Lake Victoria south to the Transvaal west through the Zambezi valley, east to the coast of Mozambique. | Browses on leaves and shoots, flowers, fruits. | Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent |
| Cape grysbok Raphicerus melanotis English: Grysbok, Cape grysbuck; French: Grysbok du cap; German: Kaapgreisbock; Spanish: Grysbok de capa | Body is reddish brown speckled with white; whitish to gray chin, throat, ears, and undersides. Short, compact muzzle. Males with short, smooth horns up to 5 in (13 cm), angled vertically. Length 26–32 in (65–80 cm); height 18–24 in (45–60 cm); weight 18–29 lb (8–13 kg). | Occurs in scrub and brush on sand dunes, at the base of hills and in riverine habitats. Occur singly or as loosely associated pairs. Males and females share territories or overlapping home ranges. Most active at night. | Restricted to the southern Cape of South Africa. | Primarily browses on shrubs, flowers and fruit. May go long periods without water. | Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent |
| Beira Dorcatragus megalotis French: Beira, dorcatrague; German: Beira; Spanish: Beira | Slender, long-legged, and long-necked. Fur thick and gray on back developing into a darker band along sides from front elbow to back thigh. Throat, chin and underparts off white; limbs and head rufous. Ears large and lined with white fur. Sharp, broad-set horns up to 5 in (13 cm) on males. Length 2.6–2.8 ft (80–86 cm); height 1.6–2 ft (50–60 cm); weight 20–25 lb (9–11.5 kg). | Arid, rugged mountain habitats where rock and low brush provides forage and cover. Occur singly, in pairs, or in groups of up to 12 animals on large home ranges. | Restricted to mountainous regions of northern Somalia. | Leaves of small shrubs and bushes, also grasses. | Vulnerable |
