A small, forest-dwelling antelope that feels like it was designed to be noticed only for a moment—then lost to the green. It has a compact body, short legs, and a smooth coat that is usually gray-brown to chestnut-brown, often with slightly darker shading along the back. The face is slim and gentle-looking, with a small nose and alert ears that pivot like little radar dishes, catching the softest forest sounds. Many individuals show a darker muzzle and a subtle stripe or shadowing near the spine, and some have a faint tuft of hair on the forehead. Males commonly carry short, straight horns, while females typically have none, giving the species a “horned or not” look depending on who you’re watching.

Many duikers have very bold features—like bright reddish coats, strong facial markings, or obvious stripes—but Ogilby’s duiker tends to be more softly patterned, with a calm, earthy palette that matches shaded woodland. That makes it easy to confuse with other small duikers at a quick glance, yet the overall “look” is distinctive once you know it: a sleek, neat face, modest horn size in males, and a general appearance that reads as tidy and refined rather than flashy. It also stands out by being strongly tied to dense forest habitats, where it can use cover as its main defense.

In daily life, Ogilby’s duiker is a quiet forager with a practical, opportunistic menu. It often eats fallen fruit, leaves, tender shoots, and other plant foods that are easiest to find on the forest floor. Think of it as a gentle “gatherer” that takes advantage of what the trees drop, especially when fruit is plentiful. It may feed during the cooler, dimmer hours—early morning, late afternoon, and sometimes at night—when the forest feels safer and the light makes it easier to hide.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Cameroon

2016

Congo-Brazzaville

2016

Côte D’ivoire

2016

Equatorial Guinea

2016

Bioko

Gabon

2016

Ghana

2016

Guinea

2016

Presence Uncertain

Liberia

2016

Nigeria

2016

Sierra Leone

2016