Odd name, inherently funny animal
Scientists estimate there are between 2 million and 100 million animal species in the world. That wide range suggests we really have no idea about the environment in which we live, no matter how much we pretend to.
Introducing the cricket's first part of -- we'll just say -- a long series.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the dikdik, nature's clown.
Dikdiks are tiny antelopes slightly larger than a hare, but do not have the distinction of being Africa's smallest antelope. That distinction rests with the dwarf royal antelope of West Africa.
The dikdik is actually the third smallest mini deer, behind the suni.
There are five species of dikdik, primarily found in eastern and northeastern Africa. They live in monogamous pairs on territories they mark with their own dung. Almost OCD with protecting their shrubby land along dry, rocky stream beds, the dikdik will lay one down around the boundaries and on top of other species' crap, even elephants.
To put the size of the animal into perspective, the digidigi (as the locals call it) can grow to between 10 and 12 pounds and stand at a hilarious 14 to 16 inches.
They eat foliage, shoots, fruit and berries. They are nocturnal, therefore feeding mostly at night.
Dikdiks like salt, but do not need to drink.
Enough liquid is contained in the plants they eat.
Range life moves quickly for the small deer, as just about everything eats it, including monitor lizards, eagles, pythons, small cats, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and humans. To compensate, dikdiks reproduce like rabbits.
A doe can get pregnant just 10 days after giving birth. A young dikdik reaches sexual maturity at six months of age.
Dikdiks get it on like dikdiks.
Go on; say the animal's name a couple times. A smile, albeit slight, is guaranteed to cross your face.
Use it as a pet name for your lover.
Don't be alarmed if they react like a true dikdik and do considerable damage with their razor-sharp hooves. The best-case scenario is that he/she leans over and uses the nose to whistle a seductive "zik-zik" into your ear, which is likely how this jester got its moniker.
If you close your eyes tight enough, you can just pretend your beau has an exotic accent.
A tip of the hat goes to the African Wildlife Foundation for the information.
Introducing the cricket's first part of -- we'll just say -- a long series.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the dikdik, nature's clown.
Dikdiks are tiny antelopes slightly larger than a hare, but do not have the distinction of being Africa's smallest antelope. That distinction rests with the dwarf royal antelope of West Africa.
The dikdik is actually the third smallest mini deer, behind the suni.
There are five species of dikdik, primarily found in eastern and northeastern Africa. They live in monogamous pairs on territories they mark with their own dung. Almost OCD with protecting their shrubby land along dry, rocky stream beds, the dikdik will lay one down around the boundaries and on top of other species' crap, even elephants.
To put the size of the animal into perspective, the digidigi (as the locals call it) can grow to between 10 and 12 pounds and stand at a hilarious 14 to 16 inches.
They eat foliage, shoots, fruit and berries. They are nocturnal, therefore feeding mostly at night.
Dikdiks like salt, but do not need to drink.
Enough liquid is contained in the plants they eat.
Range life moves quickly for the small deer, as just about everything eats it, including monitor lizards, eagles, pythons, small cats, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and humans. To compensate, dikdiks reproduce like rabbits.
A doe can get pregnant just 10 days after giving birth. A young dikdik reaches sexual maturity at six months of age.
Dikdiks get it on like dikdiks.
Go on; say the animal's name a couple times. A smile, albeit slight, is guaranteed to cross your face.
Use it as a pet name for your lover.
Don't be alarmed if they react like a true dikdik and do considerable damage with their razor-sharp hooves. The best-case scenario is that he/she leans over and uses the nose to whistle a seductive "zik-zik" into your ear, which is likely how this jester got its moniker.
If you close your eyes tight enough, you can just pretend your beau has an exotic accent.
A tip of the hat goes to the African Wildlife Foundation for the information.
posted by costello at 22:53
1 Comments:
Oy yoy yoy yoy yoy!
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