These bush antelopes are the smallest in the world. The dwarf antelope weighs like a hare, only 2-3 kilograms, and its dimensions are the same. The height of this microantelope does not exceed 30-35 centimeters.
Despite its toy appearance, the dwarf antelope is very collected, armed with sharp horns and can easily repel even the largest predator.
Of course, she can’t cope with a leopard, but she used to chase jackals away.
Another feature of these babies is their amazing speed when moving. The recorded speed of their movement reached 42 kilometers per hour.
Of course, at such a pace, the dwarf antelope, another name is dikdik, cannot run for a long time, but it is the first at short distances. But still, the main way to avoid a hostile takeover by an antelope is not to counterattack and not compete in speed, but to capitalize on your own miniaturization.
The area where the dwarf antelope lives is usually riddled with multiple tunnels of pipes made by it in thickets of thorny bushes.
Hence the name, bush antelope.
In theseonly dik-diks can fit in the manholes, but not larger animals. So as long as there are thickets of thorny bushes in Africa, the antelope is invincible.
In general, dikdik are animals of a very respectable age. Fossils found in Africa are 4-5 million years old.
Dikdiki are monogamous, as a rule, each male has only one spouse, to whom he remains faithful for many years.
The family occupies a certain territory of the bush - this is their food zone.
When meeting with neighbors on the border, antelopes whistle hoarsely and show off their beautiful horns as if showing their superiority. But it never comes to conflict.
When hyenas or other predatory animals approach, the male gives the family conditioned signals that resemble a whistle. As soon as they are distributed, the female and children hide in the thicket of the bush or in the catacombs on their site. And as soon as the danger passes, the family is reunited again.
The pygmy antelope has one unique feature - wherever it is in the territory, it will go to the toilet in the same place.
In the old days dik-diks were exterminated for gloves, but now hunting for them is strictly licensed.
The largest pygmy antelope is called oribi. She can grow to the size of an adult gazelle, but still look fragile and tender.
Unlike dik-dik, oribi prefer a flatter area without hills.
The weight of these large pygmy antelopes is up to 20 kilograms, and the body length canreach one meter. Males differ from females in the presence of beautiful thin horns. Females do not have horns.
Also, large pygmy antelopes differ from the smallest ones in that several females fall on one male, and they all live together.
Oribis live in savannahs and steppes, hiding from enemies in tall grass. They feed on grass and leaves. Oribi breed regardless of the weather and season. Also, these miniature beautiful animals build their ground nests from branches.
