The suni is a tiny antelope that stands 350 mm at the shoulder and weighs up to 5.4 kg, with ewes slightly larger than rams. It has a light-brown coat that fades slightly at the sides and white underparts. Very shy and nocturnal, the suni lives in forests with a dense understorey and is preyed upon heavily by pythons and eagles.
Name
Suni
Appearance
This tiny antelope stands at 350mm at the shoulders, with ewes being slightly larger than the rams, weighing up to 5.4kg. Their coats are a light-brown in colour that fades slightly at the sides. The underparts of this antelope are all white. This antelope, out of all other antelope in Africa, has the largest orbital scent gland with relative size to their bodies.
Breeding
They have a gestation period of about 6 months after which a single fawn is born. The Suni usually give birth during the summer. The newborn fawns are hidden in the thick bush and the mothers return to the nest to suckle their young and groom them. The births take part from November to March. The new borns are slightly darker in colour than the adults.
Behaviour
The Suni is a rather rare antelope that is also very shy. These little antelope are nocturnal and actively look for food at night. They find a protected and shaded area to sleep during the day and because of their coat colour, they have great camouflage which allows them to easily hide from predators. When sensing a threat, the Suni will freeze in place until the threat is up close and then leaps around and vanishes in the undergrowth. The Rams have a territory of 3 hectares that they defend, marking boundaries using scent glands.
Habitat
Suni prefer forests with dense understory with shrub and low ground coverage. Their preyed upon heavily by pythons and eagles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a suni antelope?
A suni stands 350 mm at the shoulder and weighs up to 5.4 kg, making it a tiny antelope. The ewes are slightly larger than the rams, and both have a light-brown coat with white underparts.
Is the suni nocturnal?
Yes. Suni are nocturnal and actively look for food at night. During the day they find a protected, shaded area to sleep in. The suni is also a very shy antelope.
How does a suni escape predators?
When a suni senses a threat, it freezes in place until the threat is up close, then leaps away and vanishes into the undergrowth. Its light-brown coat gives it great camouflage, which helps it hide from predators.
Where does the suni live?
Suni prefer forests with a dense understorey, with shrubs and low ground cover. Rams defend a territory of 3 hectares, marking its boundaries with their scent glands.
How do suni breed?
After a gestation period of about 6 months, a single fawn is born, usually in summer between November and March. The fawn is hidden in thick bush, and the mother returns to suckle and groom it. Newborns are slightly darker than adults.
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