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Duikers are named for the way they quickly dive for cover when startled, coming from the Afrikaans word for “diver”. Yellow-backed duikers are the largest of all species of duiker and have a patch of yellow hair on their rump, which stands up when they are alarmed or threatened. They have scent glands underneath their eyes that help to mark their territory and communicate things with other duikers.
Because their diet consists of up to 70 percent fruit and seeds, these animals play an important role in seed dispersal, which helps forests to regenerate. They often rely on foraging monkeys, birds, and bats to drop fruit to the ground. They use their hooves and noses to dig for roots.
Yellow-backed duikers in the wild will live solitary or in pairs. Females grow slightly larger than males, reaching up to 170 pounds and standing two and half feet tall at the shoulder.
