# Kirk's Dik-dik (*Madoqua kirkii*)

> Kirk's dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii) is a tiny East African antelope that lives in lifelong pairs in thornbush and arid scrub from Somalia and Kenya through Tanzania. Adults weigh about 5 kg, whistle when alarmed, browse moist leaves rather than tall grass, and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Dry bush country of East Africa from Somalia and Kenya to Tanzania and Namibia-region relatives.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dik-dik/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Madoqua

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Madoqua kirkii |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Thornbush and arid scrub |
| Lifespan | Around 10 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 5 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 40 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Pocket antelope with a whistle

Elongated flexible snouts help pant and cool; only males have short spike horns often hidden by a crest. Monogamous pairs hold territories marked with dung piles and preorbital gland secretions.

## Browse of the dry bush

Diet is leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits selected for moisture — they rarely need to drink free water. Across its range it is tied to thornbush and arid scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Horn of Africa to Tanzania

Dry bush country of East Africa from Somalia and Kenya into Tanzania, with related dik-dik species elsewhere in Africa. Across its range it is tied to thornbush and arid scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Bushmeat and dogs

Least Concern thanks to wide range, but snaring, feral dogs, and charcoal-driven thicket loss affect local densities near villages. Across its range it is tied to thornbush and arid scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is it called a dik-dik?

The name imitates the sharp alarm whistle pairs give when fleeing — that is the usual English name for a young kirk's dik-dik.

### Do dik-diks live in herds?

No — they typically live in monogamous pairs on small territories. Native range summary: Dry bush country of East Africa from Somalia and Kenya to Tanzania and Namibia-region relatives.

### How small are dik-diks?

Kirk's dik-dik adults weigh only about 5 kg — among the smallest antelopes.

### Can dik-diks go without drinking?

Yes — they often meet water needs from moist browse.

### Where do Kirk's dik-diks live?

Arid thornbush of East Africa from Somalia and Kenya to Tanzania. Native range summary: Dry bush country of East Africa from Somalia and Kenya to Tanzania and Namibia-region relatives.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dik-dik/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.