One of the 6 duikers on WAnimals
Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae
Maxwell's Duiker
Philantomba maxwellii
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
Maxwell's duiker is one of the smallest antelopes in Africa, the size of a large hare, and one of the most abundant in the forests of West Africa. Greyish-brown with tiny horns, it moves along tunnels through dense undergrowth eating leaves, shoots, fungi and fallen fruit beneath fruiting trees. It copes well with secondary forest and plantations. Despite its abundance it suffers enormous hunting pressure: it is one of the species most often found in the region's bushmeat markets.
Weight
8 kg – 10 kg
Size
55 cm – 90 cm
Life expectancy
12 years
