11 Delightful Facts About the Dik-Dik

Her name is Aluna and she was reared by the Chester Zoo after failing to bond with her mother. Even so they’re still not the tiniest antelope on earth. That honor goes to the rabbit-sized West African royal antelope, which weighs less than 10 pounds and stands a mere 10 to 12 inches high as an adult. The dik-dik's name comes from the crazy sound their nose makes when frightened. (Watch the video below to hear it) When she senses danger the female dik-dik emits a nose whistle that sounds like "zik-zik" or "dik-dik." The sound often warns other game species in the area that it's time to flee. They believe in soulmates. Unlike 97% of animals on Earth, dik-diks are monogamous. They live in pairs, not herds, and when they choose a mate, they will be a couple for life. Like humans, dik-dik mothers only have one baby at a time. The young stay concealed for a time after birth, but grow quickly and reach full size by seven months. Then, they're on their own, wah! Dik-diks have remarkable noses. You've heard of prehensile (aka capable of grasping) tails? Well dik-diks have prehensile NOSES. More about their awesome snouts later... They almost never get thirsty. Dik-diks are herbivores. Their diet mainly consists of foliage, shoots, fruit and berries, but little or no grass. They get sufficient amounts of water from their food, so drinking it is unnecessary. Dik-diks mark their territory with tears. Dik-diks purposefully poke their eyes with grass and twigs to spread the preorbital glandular fluid that comes from the black spot in the corner of their eyes. Despite its small legs, a dik-dik would crush you in a foot race. Or a bike race. With so many predators, this little must skedaddle to survive. Dik-diks are capable of reaching speeds of up to 42 miles per hour. This dik-dik says "Bring it, bro." They're rockstars when it comes to beating the African heat. First, they find a shady spot to sleep in during the hottest part of the day when they would lose valuable water. Second, when they get really hot, dik-diks can pant to pump blood through their weirdly-long nose. This practice helps to cool the blood down before it is pumped back into the body. Though dik-diks have many predators, their biggest threat is humans. Dik-diks are hunted for the small bones in their legs and feet that are used to make traditional jewelry. Their skins are often made into suede for gloves.