Head to head
Common Duiker vs Steenbok
The common duiker and steenbok are both small, widespread African antelope, but their diet and daily habits set them apart in some surprising ways.
| Common Duiker | Steenbok | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sylvicapra grimmia | Raphicerus campestris |
| Diet | Plants plus occasional insects, eggs | Strictly herbivorous |
| Water dependence | Drinks when available | Almost never needs to drink |
| Notable behaviour | Ducks quickly into cover | Buries its own dung |
| Distribution | Widest of any small African antelope | Widespread across southern/East Africa |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Savanna, forest | Savanna, grassland |
Common Duiker vs Steenbok: common questions
Which species has the more varied diet, the common duiker or the steenbok?
The common duiker has the more varied diet, occasionally eating insects, eggs, and even small vertebrates in addition to plants, while the steenbok is strictly herbivorous, feeding only on leaves, shoots, fruit, and roots.
Why does the steenbok bury its own dung, unlike the common duiker?
The steenbok buries its dung using a scraping motion with its front hooves to avoid drawing predator attention, a specific behaviour not documented as a defining trait of the common duiker.
Which species is more widespread, the common duiker or the steenbok?
The common duiker is more widespread, holding the widest distribution of any small African antelope, while the steenbok is still widespread but more specifically concentrated across southern and East Africa.