Yellow-Backed Duiker

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*This page is under renovation and all information may not be up-to-date or complete*

Description

Yellow-backed duikers get their name from a yellow patch of hair on their backside. These hairs stand up when they feel alarmed or threatened. The rest of the yellow-backed duiker’s coat is a deep brown color. They have short, cylindrical shaped horns.

Range & Habitat

Yellow-backed duikers are forest-dwelling antelopes native to Western and Central Africa. They are found as far west as Senegal and as far east as Uganda. The southernmost part of their range is in Angola and Zambia.

At the Virginia Zoo, yellow-backed duiker can be found on the African Safari Trail next to the Masai giraffe habitat and across from the eastern mountain bongo/Stanley crane habitat.

Behavior

Duikers are named for the way they quickly dive for cover when startled. The name “duiker” originates from Afrikaans and means “diver” in reference to their behavior.

Yellow-backed duikers have large scent glands under their eyes that are used to mark territory. Mother duikers use their scent glands to mark their young, and adults may scent mark each other to facilitate social bonding. Duikers are typically solitary or live in pairs.

Diet

Up to 70% of a yellow-backed duiker’s diet consists of fruit and seeds. They are important seed dispersers, facilitating forest regeneration by spreading seeds in their feces.

Conservation

Yellow-backed duiker are threatened by habitat loss, encroachment of human settlements, and poaching.

Fun Facts

• Yellow-backed duikers are the largest species of duiker.

Virginia Zoo Animals

Female: Dot (born: 1/04/2011)