Red Forest Duiker (Cephalophus natalensis)
Family: Cattle Family (Bovidae)
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern
A tiny species of forest-dwelling antelope (growing to only around 43cm/16.9 inches tall at the shoulder,) the Red Forest Duiker is native to south-eastern Africa where it mainly inhabits dense high-altitude or coastal forests with reliable year-round access to freshwater. While many grassland-dwelling antelopes live in large herds to provide "safety in numbers" in the absence of sheltered areas in which to hide from predators, this species' densely-vegetated habitat renders defensive group-living unnecessary (with the small bodies and plain brown colouration of adult Red Forest Duikers allowing them to easily blend in with their surroundings,) and as such they typically live alone outside of breeding or raising calves (although small groups of up to 3 individuals, often close relatives, are occasionally seen foraging together.) Both males and females of this species are highly territorial, using strong-smelling secretions produced by glands beneath their eyes to mark out territories, typically choosing areas with good access to water, food (which consists mainly of fruits, flowers and soft leaves, as compared to other antelopes they have only a rudimentary ability to digest tough, fibrous plant matter) and vegetation to hide within; when faced with potential predators (such as Leopards, Crowned Eagles and Southern African Rock Pythons,) Red Forest Duikers will initially freeze in place in hopes that they have not been seen, and if the predator then begins to approach they will rush towards the undergrowth in a series of short bounding leaps. Female Red Forest Duikers may breed at any time of year, giving birth to a single calf at a time after a gestation period of around 8 months. The calf is protected and fed by its mother for around 6-8 months before reaching maturity, and while its father will not aid in its raising it may remain in contact with it and its mother through a series of snorts, whistles and shrieks - in response to their young calf's distress call, both parents have been known to rush in to defend their young.
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Image Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1431002-Cephalophorus-natalensis
