Facts about Dik-diks
It is named for the sound it produce when alarmed. They live in the bush of East Africa, Angola and Namibia. Their weight ranges from 3-6 kg. A black spot below the inside corner of each eye of dik-dik contains a preorbital gland that produces a dark sticky secretion. Monitor lizards, eagles, pythons, caracals, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and jackals are their main predators. Dik-diks insert grass stems and twigs into the gland to scent-mark their territories. They stand 30-40 cm at the shoulder. They belong to the Genus Madoqua. They reach sexual maturity in six to eight months. Female dik-diks are somewhat larger than males. Dik-diks are herbivores, consuming foliage, shoots, fruit and berries. They have an elongated snout and a soft coat that is grey or brownish above and white below. The hair on the crown forms an upright tuft that sometimes partially conceals the short, ringed horns of the male. They usually live in pairs over a 12-acre territory. |
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