It’s called the Dik-dik. Yes, you read that right. The dik-dik is a miniature species of antelope that can be found in the African bushlands. But they’re more than just adorable; they have a very interesting lifestyle, which I’m about to tell you about. Who knows? They might become your new favorite animal!
Why are they called dik-diks, you may ask? Well, their name comes from the alarm noise the females make when threatened. It’s pretty cute. Check out a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vk4jd0bt6Q
Dik-diks are very small. Fully grown, they stand only about a foot tall at the shoulder. That’s smaller than the average dog! Females are bigger than the males, but the males have small horns on their head that are usually about 3 inches long.
Dik-diks are herbivores, so they mostly eat edible plants and berries. Sadly, they are also eaten by other animals, like lions and hyenas. But they do have some great defense mechanisms! According to the African Wildlife Foundation, dik-diks can run up to 26 miles per hour. Additionally, their coloring allows them to camouflage in certain areas.
Dik-diks mate for life. Isn’t that adorable? After they find that life-long partner, they are rarely seen apart. #Relationshipgoals, am I right? The only bad thing is, their lives don’t last very long. Dik-diks only live about 3 or 4 years in the wild, but in captivity they can live up to 10 years. (Still not very long if you ask me) They stay cute until the end, but I think you’ll agree that they’re cutest when they’re young. Check out this baby dik-dik:
So there you have it. In summary, dik-diks: adorable, small, and short-lived. I’m not sure if it’s legal to have them as pets, but I’d definitely take one.
Photo source 1: Wikipedia
Photo source 2: Mentalfloss.com
Photo source 3: Wikipedia
Photo source 4: Flitto.com
Photo source 5: Zooborns.com
Photo source 6: Zooborns.com