Mammal
Maxwell's Duiker
Philantomba maxwelliiMaxwell's duikers are small, solitary forest antelopes native to the dense understory of West African rainforests. They rely on dark greyish-brown coats for camouflage while navigating brushy trails to feed on fallen fruits, seeds, and fresh foliage. Preyed upon by large carnivores and raptors, these alert herbivores communicate through scent marking from suborbital glands and high-pitched alarm whistles.
Forest DwellerShyHerbivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFallen fruits, Seeds, Leaves
Predators
- Leopards
- African Crowned Eagles
- Pythons
ThreatsBushmeat hunting and deforestation
HabitatsLowland tropical rainforests, gallery forests, dense thickets
Life span10–12 years in the wild
Classification
- FamilyBovidae
- SpeciesPhilantomba maxwellii
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Stay Quiet: Walk softly along forest paths, as these skittish antelopes flee from sudden noise.
- Scan the Understory: Watch low brush around fruit-bearing trees where they regularly forage.
Sympatric Antelope Oopsadoodle / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Henry de Lange, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Henry de Lange · cc-by
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