Ranging from Senegal and Guinea across the savanna woodlands of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and into western Sudan, this species is strongly associated with savanna mosaics, wooded grasslands, and forest edges, making it more open-country oriented than many of its deeply forest-dwelling duiker relatives.

This duiker’s appearance is both elegant and distinctive. It has a shiny reddish-brown patch along the flanks—its hallmark trait—contrasting with a darker back and paler underparts. The head is short and sleek with a dark forehead, expressive eyes, and a small tuft of hair between the short, straight horns found in both males and females. Its legs are slender yet strong, adapted for quick bursts of speed into cover, and its build is compact and rounded, a typical trait of duikers that rely on agility and stealth.

Unlike many duikers that live deep in rainforest, the Red-flanked duiker is well adapted to savanna woodland habitats, where it uses tall grasses, shrubs, and bushy thickets for concealment. It is generally crepuscular, active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk, though it may also be active at night. During the hottest parts of the day, it shelters in dense vegetation, relying on its reddish coloration to blend with the warm tones of savanna grasses and leaf litter.

Socially, the Red-flanked duiker is typically solitary or found in stable pairs, a common trait among duikers. Males and females maintain small overlapping territories, marking them with scent glands and dung piles. Communication is subtle and involves soft grunts, snorts, posture changes, and scent cues. When alarmed, this duiker either freezes in place or darts into thickets with a rapid zig-zag sprint, making it extremely difficult for predators such as eagles, pythons, African wild cats, and jackals to catch.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Benin

2016

Burkina Faso

2016

Cameroon

2016

Central Af. Rep.

2016

Chad

2016

Côte D’ivoire

2016

DR Congo (Kinshasa)

2016

Gambia

2016

Ghana

2016

Guinea-Bissau

2016

Guinea

2016

Mali

2016

Niger

2016

Nigeria

2016

Senegal

2016

Sierra Leone

2016

South Sudan

2016

Sudan

2016

Togo

2016

Uganda

2016

Possibly Extinct