Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae

Maxwell's Duiker

Philantomba maxwellii

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestHerbivore Variable activity Solitary Rainforest Mammal

11countries 9parks86same family

Fun facts

The name duiker comes from the Afrikaans duiker, diver, from the habit these antelopes have of plunging suddenly into the undergrowth when something startles them.
It has very well developed preorbital glands, in front of the eyes, which it rubs against branches and trunks to mark its territory with a scent of its own.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Dense understorey of rainforest, secondary forest and mangrove of West Africa
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 3.9 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philantomba_maxwellii