African Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary and Endangered Species Breeding Center

Endangered Antelope Breeding Program

Name: Blue Duiker
Scientific name: Cephalophus monticola
Family: Bovidae
Order: Artiodactyla
Class: Mammalia

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Cephalophus monticola is the smallest species of duiker. It can weigh between 4-10 kilograms with a shoulder height of about 30-40 centimetres. The body length of the Blue Duiker is between 55-72 centimetres and the tail length can be between 7-12.5 centimetres long. The coat of a Blue Duiker is short and red as a kid changing to a bluish/grey as an adult. The hair on the inner parts and under the tail is whitish in colour. There are a few traits that the Blue Duiker possesses that make it unique. One of the more distinguishing features are the scent glands which are located under each eye. These scent glands look like diagonal gashes that run from the upper cheek towards the mouth. They are used mainly for marking their territory. Another distinguishing feature are the triangular horns that emerge from a patch of hair in the middle of the mammals head. These horns are 2-10 centimetres long in males and 4 centimetres long in females. Some females may lack horns.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

The Blue Duiker can be found in most areas in Southern Africa

BEHAVIOR:

Blue Duikers get their food mainly by browsing. They also depend on other animals, like monkeys, to shake fruits out of trees for them to eat. Male and female Blue Duikers mark their 5-10 acre territories by rubbing their scent glands on trees & fences. They also mark their territory with feces. The Duikers use their long hind legs and short forelegs for diving into bushes when threatened or disturbed. Blue Duikers are monogamous mammals. When a kid is born the father abandons the territory for one month to protect the newborn from predation and the mother is left to care for the young alone.

DIET:

In its natural habitat, they eat fallen seeds, berries, moss and herbs. Leaves, buds, young shoots and grasses are also part of their diet. The Blue Duiker is the only antelope that includes meat in its diet such as rats, birds and carrion. Monkeys assist the Blue Duikers in their hunt for food by knocking down fruits from trees, which makes up 75% of the Duiker's diet. This mammal seldom drinks, but it may lick water off of leaves.

BREEDING and NESTING:

Breeding is not limited to a certain time of year. A Blue Duiker couple typically produces one kid per year, but may produce two or three. Gestation lasts approximately 4 months and a calf may weight 0.8 kilograms at birth. Weaning occurs after 5 months at the latest. Females reach sexual maturity by 9-12 months and males in 12-18 months. The lifespan of a Blue Duiker is about 10-15 years in captivity, their lifespan in the wild is unknown. Duikers return to the same area each night to sleep, which is considered quite rare. Duikers appear to be monogamous animals where the male and female share responsibilities

Wild Population:

Blue Duikers are considered endangered by Appendix II of CITES. They are killed by farmers when invading crops, and also hunted for their meat, skin and horns. Humans aren't the only ones to hunt blue duikers. They are also preyed upon by hyenas, wild dogs, cats, crocodiles, baboons and snakes. The Duiker population is also threatened by the killing of monkeys, whom they depend on to provide them with fruits from high trees.