Overview
A sudden rustle in the undergrowth may be the only sign of a suni slipping silently through the vegetation. Small, shy and beautifully camouflaged, this diminutive antelope inhabits dense thickets, coastal forest and wooded country in eastern Tanzania, including Zanzibar and Mafia Island.
Its reddish-brown to chestnut coat blends closely with fallen leaves and shadowy vegetation. Suni rely on concealment rather than prolonged speed, remaining motionless when danger approaches before darting rapidly into thicker cover.
They are browsers rather than grazers. Fallen leaves form an important part of their diet, supplemented by shoots, buds, flowers, fruit and fungi. Much of their moisture is obtained directly from food, allowing them to live without regularly visiting open water.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a tiny, lightly built antelope with a rounded back, slender legs and a warm reddish or grey-brown coat. The underparts, chin and insides of the legs are paler, while a light ring surrounds each eye. Dark bands immediately above the hooves are another useful identification feature.
Only males carry horns. These are short, straight and ridged, angling backwards in line with the face and generally measuring around 6.5–13 cm. Females are hornless but otherwise similar in appearance.
Males maintain small territories marked with scent from prominent glands beneath the eyes, together with dung piles. An adult male may share his territory with several females, although individuals are often encountered alone.
Interesting facts
They obtain much of their water from vegetation. Moisture from leaves, shoots and fruit reduces the need to visit exposed drinking places.
Their musky scent helped give the species its scientific name. Prominent facial glands produce secretions used to mark vegetation and territory.
Freezing is one of their main defences. Their speckled reddish coat blends into leaf litter, allowing them to remain hidden until danger is extremely close.