habitat_narrative

Terrestrial

Across their range, Natal Red Duikers occur within indigenous forests and dense thickets, including coastal, riverine, swamp and montane slope forests and forest clumps, as well as wooded ravines (Bowland 1997; Skinner & Chimimba 2005). They have been recorded at elevations of up to 200 m asl (Rowe-Rowe 1994). Natal Red Duikers occasionally wander into more open grasslands to forage, but will immediately return to the shelter of forested regions at any sign of disturbance (Bowland 1997).

Heinichen (1972) recorded predominantly shrubs, fruits and dry leaves in the diet of the Red Duiker, and noted that they frequently swallow whole fruits. Recently fallen fruits, flowers and leaves from the forest canopy constitute a large proportion of their diet, and active browsing from live vegetation occurs less commonly (Bowland 1997), although they will browse on the fine stems of shrubs growing low to the ground (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). This species is considered a concentrate selector with specialised adaptations for efficient absorption, thus does not tolerate large quantities of fibre in its diet (Faurie & Perrin 1995).

Natal Red Duikers exhibit sedentary behaviour for a considerable portion of the day, and are most active around dawn and dusk (Bowland & Perrin 1995). This sedentary behaviour is a function of their small body size and ruminant digestive system (Bowland & Perrin 1995). Although core areas of habitat remain stable, home ranges vary temporally, and Natal Red Duikers are more active in higher quality habitats (Bowland & Perrin 1995). This species is not territorial and some individual home ranges overlap by up to 100%, however, occasionally individuals exhibit temporal separation (Bowland & Perrin 1995). They are solitary, and do not form lasting associations with one another, aside from females and their young (Bowland & Perrin 1995). This species is a non-seasonal breeder, producing a single lamb following a gestation period of approximately 210 days. A calving interval of 236 days (range = 222–273 days, n = 5; Spence 1991) has been estimated, which is similar to that of the Common (Sylvicapra grimmia) and Blue Duiker (Philantomba monticola) (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Ecosystem and cultural services: This is a flagship species for forest habitats and is a valuable seed disperser, feeding on fallen wild fruit and potentially browsing on the lower branches of Grewia spp. They are also important prey species for Leopards (Panthera pardus), as has been documented on the southern slopes of the Soutpansberg Mountains (Power 2002).