| Kingdom -> | Animalia |
| Phylum -> | Chordata |
| Class -> | Mammalia |
| Order -> | Artiodactyla |
| Family -> | Bovidae |
| Genus -> | Nesotragus |
| Species -> | N. Moschatus |
Suni are small antelopes with a slender build, short legs, and a hunched back. They have a reddish-brown coat with white underparts, and a distinctive tuft of hair on their forehead that stands erect when they are alarmed or excited. Both males and females have short, straight horns, which are only a few centimeters long.
Suni are found in wooded savannas and forests throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Somalia and Kenya to South Africa. They prefer areas with dense vegetation, such as thickets and brush, where they can hide from predators.
Suni are primarily solitary and territorial animals, with a home range of about 2 to 4 hectares. They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, resting during the hottest part of the day. Suni mark their territory with scent glands located near their eyes and on their feet, and use vocalizations to communicate with other suni in the area. They are also very agile and can quickly dart through dense vegetation to evade predators. Suni are herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruits, and flowers. They obtain most of their water from their food, but will also drink from water sources when available. They are able to survive without drinking water for long periods of time, making them well-adapted to arid environments.
Suni are listed as a species of "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but their populations are threatened by habitat loss and hunting for their meat and hides. They are also vulnerable to predation by large carnivores such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. Conservation efforts are focused on protecting their habitat, as well as regulating hunting and poaching.