Kirk's Dik-Dik

There are four species of dik-dik, a small antelope found in Africa: (1) Gunther's; (2) Kirk's; (3) Silver; and (4) Salt's. We happened to see Kirk's dik-dik, which grows to a height of 14 to 18 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 15 pounds. It has a reddish/brown head, a trunk-like snout, a head-crest that stands erect on its head, large eyes with a white eye-ring, large ears and a gray to brown coat, with tan flanks and legs and whitish underparts. A bare black spot below the inside corner of the eye contains a gland that produces a dark secretion which they use to scent-mark their territories. The male has horns that slant backwards and are sharply ridged. They have good eyesight and can run up to 26 mph. 

Side profile of Kirk's dik-dik. Photo by Mark Edwards.

A male with his two small horns.

White undersides and horns. Photo by John Mirau.

Good view of scent gland below eye,  trunk-like snout, standing hair on crest of head. Photo by Mark Edwards.

Standing hair on crest of head on a female. Photo by Mark Edwards.

Eye with white eye-ring and a different angle on the snout. Photo by Mark Edwards.

Kirk's dik-dik is found from southern Somalia to central Tanzania and Namibia to southwestern Angola. We got pictures of them in Buffalo Springs NR and Serengeti NP and may have seen them in other places. They were also found on the grounds of the Serena Serengeti Lodge where we saw them right near our little cabins. They were extremely quick and moved around almost like a rodent. 

On the grounds of the Serena Serengeti Lodge. Photo by Esmee Tooke.

Photo by Mark Edwards

Photo by Michael Lewin.