Overview
The East African bush duiker includes a number of local races from considerably different habitats and climates, so there is a good deal of variation in color. However, in much of the region its general color is yellowish gray through bright tawny, with a little black speckling. The black nose stripe is more pronounced in the western part of the distribution range. The coat is longer and shaggier at higher elevations. Horns are somewhat shorter than in the Southern bush duiker.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Sylvicapra
- Species
- Sylvicapra grimmia
Habitat
Inhabits savannah, mountains, steppes, and forests. Distribution- Southern Sudan and western Ethiopia; northeastern and eastern Congo (K) from the Sudan border southward to about Lake Tanganyika; Uganda, southern and western Kenya, and southern Somalia; Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.
Diet
Duiker will preferentially browse, but also graze and even forage on fruit, as well as insects and occasionally small animals as available.
Behavior
These animals are shy and prefer to be in thick cover or else close by for a quick escape. They are highly territorial, and tend to remain solitary or in pairs to avoid further competition.
Hunting
Often taken as a chance occurance while pursuing other game.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.