Bay duikers are nocturnal. Shelter is sought out during the day and is most often found in hollow trees, among buttress roots, or dense brush. Regularly used paths provide an ease of movement through forest and often through such thick vegetation that they resemble tunnels rather than paths. Population densities are very low, with 30-50 acres of habitat providing range for only 2 to 3 bay duikers.
Fun Facts:
- The word “duiker” comes from the Afrikaans word duikerbok, which means “diving buck”, a characteristic threat response of the duikers
- Their large mouth and wide gape enables bay duikers to pick up and crush fruits too large or hard for primates and other competing frugivores to consume
Conservation Threats:
Near Threatened