Black Duiker
Cephalophus niger
WILD STATUS
Least Concern.
DISTRIBUTION
They are found only in western Africa from Sierra Leone to S.W. Nigeria.
SIZE
Height of 46-51 cm (18”-20”) at the shoulder.
Weight 15-30 kg (33-66 lbs).
HABITAT
Black Duikers live at the edges of semi-deciduous forests, bushy thickets, rainforests and riverine galleries.
REPRODUCTION
A single baby (seldom twins) is born after 5.5 months of gestation. The lifespan is up to 10 to 12 years.
DIET
Black Duikers are mainly herbivores with fruit and seeds constituting 60% to 90% of their diet. They have a large mouth in proportion to body size. It is specially adapted to eating fruit, which it does by holding the fruit in its mouth and cleaving off and chewing large pieces. They are also browsers stripping leaves and shoots from branches and have occasionally been known to eat small insects, birds or mammals.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Little is known about the habits of the Black Duiker because they live mostly in dense bush.
- Differing authorities suggest it is diurnal (out in the day), crepuscular (dawn and dusk), or nocturnal. The latter two seem more likely.
- They have extremely big babies weighing up to 6 lbs. or 15% of the body weight of a 40 lb. mother.
- There are only 4 breeding females in captivity.
- Males have short, sharp horns mainly used as stabbing weapons.
- Major threats to the survival of this species come from human overpopulation and deforestation. Hunting for the bush meat trade is also a problem throughout its range.
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
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