A dik-dik is a tiny antelope, about the size of a rabbit or small dog, that lives in eastern and southern Africa. These miniature antelopes stand only 12 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh just 7 to 15 pounds, making them one of the smallest members of the antelope family.

Dik-diks have large, dark eyes and a pointed snout that looks almost like a small trunk. They live in dry bushlands and eat leaves, shoots, and fruits. When alarmed, dik-diks make a sharp whistle that sounds like “zik-zik” or “dik-dik,” which is how they got their name. They can run in a zigzag pattern to escape predators like eagles, jackals, and leopards.

These delicate antelopes mate for life and live in pairs, defending small territories together. Despite their small size, dik-diks are remarkably tough, surviving in hot, dry habitats where water is scarce. They get most of their moisture from the plants they eat rather than drinking from water sources.