Meet the Dik-dik, an adorable antelope from eastern and southern Africa.
They prefer dry bush and mixed bush-grass habitat that provides good cover
and plenty of food. This miniature mammal stands 12-16 inches tall and weighs
7-15 pounds.
They get their name from the nose whistle sound they make when they feel threatened.
It sounds like a dik-dik or tzik-tzik sound. When danger is sensed, the female Dik-dik
makes this noise warning others of an impending danger so they know to
hide or make a run for it.
Dik-diks use dung and tears to mark their territory. They poke their eyes with grass
or twigs so that a special fluid that comes from the black spot in the corner of
their eyes runs.
A Dik-dik's diet is herbivorous and consists mainly of leaves, shoot, and berries.
They don't like grass and get enough water from their diet. In order not to dehydrate
from the hot African sun Dik-diks sleep in the shade during the heat of the day.
Dik-diks have very strong noses. Some species of dik-dik possess elongated snouts
that are capable of grasping things tightly. Their noses also help in managing
with the heat. They pant to pump blood through their noses, which cools the blood,
and the blood goes right back into the body, refreshed and ready to go.
Unlike many of the rest of the animal kingdom, Dik-diks are monogamous. They don't
live in a herd and choose to live in pairs. They mate for life.
Dik-diks have one baby at a time usually twice a year. Mothers conceal their young
after birth and young Dik-diks stay with their mothers for seven months, until
they are fully grown.
Due to their diminutive size, Dik-diks have many predators. They are hunted primarily
by leopards, caracals, lions, hyenas, wild dogs and humans. Other predators include
monitor lizards, cheetahs, jackals, baboons, eagles, hawks and pythons.
Dik-diks' adaptations to predation include excellent eyesight, hiding, zigzagging when alarmed and
the ability to reach running speeds of up to 26 mph.
Though Dik-diks are pretty small, they're not the tiniest of African antelope. The
smallest species is the royal antelope, which grows to only 10 inches tall at the
shoulder - but it's not nearly as cute as the Dik-dik.
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