We were up early to bird around Namutoni Camp the morning of August 18, 2012, followed by traversing the Dikdik Drive again (no photos were taken during the previous afternoon's drive). Brad took this photograph of a male Kirk's (Damara) Dikdik, Madoqua kirkii. These tiny antelopes are mainly active in the morning and late afternoon. Individuals in drier semidesert areas tend to be paler. A white ring surrounds a large dark eye. The black spot below the inside corner of each eye contains a preorbital gland that produces a dark sticky secretion that Dikdiks use to scent-mark their territories (along with dung). Blood vessels in the proboscis serve as a heat exchanger allowing cooled blood to pass directly to the brain to protect this vital organ during the heat of the day. Temperatures were in the low 60's on this clear day.


Fauna_Kirks(Damara)Dikdik_D.jpg
Exif
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D7000
Orientation top, left side
X Resolution 1/300 inches
Y Resolution 1/300 inches
Resolution Unit Inches
Software ViewNX 2.0 W
Date/Time 2013:01:21 16:49:00
Artist
YCbCr Positioning Center of pixel array
Copyright
Exposure Time 1/4000 sec
F-Number F8
Exposure Program Program normal
ISO Speed Ratings 6400
Exif Version 2.30
Date/Time Original 2012:08:18 06:52:35
Date/Time Digitized 2012:08:18 06:52:35
Components Configuration YCbCr
Exposure Bias Value 0
Max Aperture Value F6.3
Metering Mode Spot
Light Source Unknown
Flash Unknown (16)
Focal Length 290.0 mm
User Comment ASCII
Sub-Sec Time 00
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FlashPix Version 1.00
Color Space Undefined
Exif Image Width 3441 pixels
Exif Image Height 2581 pixels
Sensing Method One-chip color area sensor
File Source Digital Still Camera (DSC)
Scene Type Directly photographed image
CFA Pattern
Compression JPEG compression
Thumbnail Offset 12456 bytes
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Thumbnail Data [3748 bytes of thumbnail data]
GPS
GPS Version ID 2 2 2 2
generated by EXIF-O-Matic on 2013.1.30