Dik-dik[1] | |
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A male Kirk's dik-dik at Etosha National Park, Namibia | |
Female mate of the male dik-dik in the above picture | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Bovidae |
Genus: | Madoqua (Ogilby, 1837) |
Species | |
A dik-dik is a small antelope in the genus Madoqua that lives in the bushlands of eastern and southern Africa.
Dik-diks stand about 30–40 cm (12–16 in) at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm (20–28 in) long, weigh 3–6 kg (7–16 lb) and can live for up to 10 years.
Dik-diks are named after the alarm calls of the females. In addition to the females' alarm call, both males and females make a shrill, whistling sound. These calls may alert other animals to predators. The dik-dik is a favourite prey of the cheetah.
There are four species: