Page 11 - Waterfall City Issue 10 October 2024

Some of Waterfall City’s antelope

Duikers
Name origin: “Duiker” comes from the vary significantly in size, colouration,
Afrikaans word for “diver,” a reference and habitat preference, ranging from
to the antelope’s habit of diving into savannas to dense forests.
dense vegetation when alarmed. This Solitary and elusive: Like
behaviour is their primary defence steenbokkies, most duiker species
mechanism against predators. are solitary animals, with only the
Omnivorous diet: Unlike many occasional pair forming for breeding
antelopes, which are strict herbivores, purposes. They are very secretive
duikers have an omnivorous diet. They and rely on dense vegetation to hide,
occasionally eat fruits, seeds, leaves, making them difficult to observe in the
insects, small mammals, and birds. This wild.
varied diet helps them thrive in diverse Communal defecation sites:
habitats. Some duiker species, particularly
Numerous species: Duikers are the common duiker, use communal
incredibly diverse, with over 20 species defecation sites. These latrines are used
across Africa. The Sylvicapra (common to mark territories and communicate
duiker), which we have at Waterfall with other duikers in the area through
City, and the Cephalophus species scent markings.

References: Wilson, D. E., & Mittermeier, R. A. (2009). Handbook of the Du Toit, J. T., & Cumming, D. H. M. (1999). “Functional significance of ungulate
Mammals of the World: Hoofed Mammals. Lynx Edicions. diversity in African savannas and the ecological and economic implications of
Groves, C. P., & Grubb, P. (2011). Ungulate Taxonomy. Johns Hopkins University large herbivore conservation in Southern Africa.” Biodiversity & Conservation,
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Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. University of California Press. ecology of the Karoo region of South Africa.” South African Journal of Science,
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blesbok: Assessing genetic diversity and subspecies designation. Conservation Apps, P. (2000). Wild Ways: Field Guide to the Behaviour of Southern African
Genetics, 12(2), 335-343. Mammals. Southern Book Publishers.
Carruthers, J. (2008). “Wilding the farm or farming the wild? The evolution Kingdon, J. (1997). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic
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Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 63(2), 160-181.

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