African Bushmeat
Animal Listings

Common Names Bat-Eared Fox Blue Duiker Burchell's Zebra Bushbuck Cape Buffalo Chimpanzee Dik Dik Elephant Fennec Fox Giant Eland Giraffe Grevy?s Zebra Hippopotamus Impala Kudu Lechwe Nyala Oryx Quagga Zebra Spotted Hyena Topi Vervet Monkey White Rhino

 

 

Common Name: Blue Duiker
Scientific Name: Cephalophus monticola (L. of or relating to the head, inhabitant of the mountains)
Swahili Name: Ndimba or Chesi
Geographic Range: Central and eastern Africa.
Physical Description: The blue duiker is the smallest of the seventeen duiker species, weighing in at a mere 4-10 kilograms and standing at lowly 30-40 centimeters in height . The duiker's total body length is between 55 and 72 centimeters, not including its 7-10 centimeter long tail . Depending on the region it inhabits, the duiker will mature into anywhere from a slate-grey to a grey-brown in color, and will gain the name blue duiker from the bluish sheen that is seen on the fur. Another distinct feature in the duiker is their small, 2-10 centimeter long horns. These horns are seen in all males and some females.
Unique Traits: The duiker is equipped with rather large preorbital scent glands which are located under each eye . These glands are used by the duiker to mark its territory in addition to marking by feces. The duiker can be aggressive when its territory is threatened though usually a shy animal. The duiker may become particularly protective when caring for young. Monogomous pairs will come together at least once a year and mate, at which point the male will patrol the territory and the mother will protect the young. The mother does not spend much time with the young as it spends most of its time hidden away in dense growth .
Exploitation: The blue duiker is sought after as food more so than any other species as it is diurnal and easier to capture.
Threatened Status (IUCN): Endangered