Red duiker
Scientific name: Cephalophus natalensis
- How weight is recorded: Carcass weight
Field notes
Appearance
A small antelope with bright russet-red to chestnut coat on the back and white underparts; the face is darker, often blackish. Males weigh slightly more than females and carry short, straight horns; females are hornless.
Size and weight
Males 3.5–4.5 kg, females 3.0–4.0 kg; body length 45–55 cm.
Habitat
Red duikers favour dense thicket, woodland edge, and riverine forest from sea level to 2,000 m elevation. They require thick cover and are rarely found in open grassland.
Distribution
Found in forests and dense woodland of eastern and southern Africa, from South Africa northward through Mozambique, Tanzania, and into the highlands of Kenya and Uganda.
Diet
Fruits, fallen leaves, fungi, and succulent vegetation; diet shifts seasonally toward ripe fruit when available.
Behaviour
Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal; solitary or in pairs, rarely in small family groups. Moves deliberately through dense cover and has a distinctive high-stepping gait.
Hunting tips
Look for small, precise hoofprints in soft soil near water and feeding areas, and scattered dark droppings along game trails through thick cover. Approach dense thickets at dawn or dusk when they move to feed, moving slowly and pausing frequently to listen. Stalking requires patience—remain low and use wind direction to avoid detection, as these duikers rely heavily on scent awareness.
Carcass weight
This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.