Abbott's duikers stand around 65 cm (26 in) tall at the shoulder and weigh about 55 kg (121 lb).

The face is paler and gray in color, with a large red tuft on the forehead; the horns are thin and short (8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in)).

Lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) may also hunt this duiker species in some areas Abbott's duiker is endemic to Tanzania, in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Southern Highlands in scattered populations.

They live mainly in wet forests and swamps between 1,700 and 2,700 m above sea level, but can sometimes wander to much higher elevations at 4,000 m. They eat mainly fruit and possibly other plant matter.

[citation needed] Less than 1,500 Abbott's duiker are estimated to be left in the world, with no captive population.