Kudu (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links Listen The kudu is a sub-species of antelope that is found inhabiting mixed shrub woodland, and savanna plains in eastern and southern Africa . The kudu relies heavily on close, dense thickets in which the kudu can escape to and hide when it feels threatened. There are two species of kudu in Africa which are the Lesser kudu and the Greater kudu. Both kudu species are closely related and look very similar in appearance but there are a few distinctive ways that the lesser kudu and the greater kudu can be distinguished from one another. The lesser kudu has ten white stripes which run vertically down the lesser kudu's body where the greater kudu can have anyway between 4 and 12 stripes. The greater kudu is also generally bigger than the lesser kudu Kudus are herbivorous animals and therefore have a completely vegetarian diet . Kudus forage in woodland and around thickets of shrubs nibbling on leaves from the trees and bushes.

Kudus also eat other varieties of plant life such as herbs, flowers, berries and fallen fruits. Kudus are prey to a number of predators such as lions , leopards , cheetahs , wild dogs and the occasional large python that will hunt the smaller and more vulnerable kudu young. Kudu are able to run very fast but often have a hard time outrunning predators so the kudu rely on their agile ability to leap into forest and woodland where large carnivorous predators find it harder to chase them. The kudu will then often hide in woodland until the predator have eventually given up and left. Kudus live in small herds of up to 24 kudu individuals. The kudu herds mainly consist of female kudus and their calves as male kudus tend to solitary and only come together with other kudus when it is time to mate. It has been known that groups of up to 8 male kudus will form a herd but this is very rare. The kudu mating season occurs at the end of the rainy season. The kudu gestation period is around 8 months after which time the female kudu will normally give birth to just one baby kudu.

The baby kudus tend to be born around February and March when the grass is at it's highest and there is plenty of food to help the baby kudu calves to grow. Kudus have both benefited and suffered from contact with humans . Humans find the kudu and easy target for hunting due to the fact that kudus tend to stop and look around after they have run away. Some local tribes people believe the kudu to be a sacred animal and therefore protect the kudu rather than killing it. Human settlements have also meant that the kudu habitat as changed and the kudu have had to move to other areas. This has actually done the kudu population the world of good as the kudu have been pushed into areas where there is a better source of water and therefore food. Kudu Comments Kudu facts Up to 9 months (greater kudu) Predators: leopards, hunting dogs, spotted hyenas, humans The greater kudu is considered by many to be the most handsome of the tragelaphine antelopes, which includes the bongo, eland, nyala, bushbuck and sitatunga.

Physical Characteristics Kudus, both the greater kudu and its close cousin the lesser kudu, have stripes and spots on the body, and most have a chevron of white hair on the forehead between the eyes. Greater and lesser kudu males have long, spiral horns; occasionally a female will have small ones. The greater kudu's horns are spectacular and can grow as long as 72 inches, making 2 1/2 graceful twists. These beautifully shaped horns have long been prized in Africa for use as musical instruments, honey containers and symbolic ritual objects. In some cultures the horns are thought to be the dwelling places of powerful spirits, and in others they are a symbol for male potency. The horns are seldom used in defense against predators; nor are they an impediment in wooded habitats-the kudu tilts the chin up and lays the horns against the back, moving easily through dense bush. Female greater kudus are noticeably smaller than the males. By contrast, lesser kudus are even smaller, about 42 inches at the shoulder; males weigh around 220 pounds while females generally weigh about 50 pounds less.

Lesser kudus have smaller horns than the greater kudus and conspicuous white patches on the upper and lower parts of the neck. Although both species are bluish-gray, grayish-brown or rust color, the lesser has five to six more lateral white stripes, for a total of 11 to 15. Both species have a crest of long hair along the spine, and greater kudus also have a fringe under the chin. Habitat Lesser kudus are found in acacia and commiphora thornbush in arid savannas; they rely on thickets for security and are rarely found in open or scattered bush. Greater kudus are found in woodlands and bushlands. Behavior The hierarchy among kudu males is usually determined by age and size. Males of about the same size and age engage in sparring contests in which they approach one another slowly, lock horns and push back and forth until one gives up. Usually no serious injuries result, but remains of animals have been found where the two combatants had locked horns in such a way that they could not disengage.

Dominance is usually quickly and peacefully determined by a lateral display in which one male stands sideways in front of the other and makes himself look as large as possible. If the other is suitably impressed, dominance is established. Sometimes males form small bachelor groups, but more commonly they are solitary and widely dispersed. Diet Kudus live in the drier areas of eastern and southern Africa, wherever there is adequate low- and medium-level woody growth to provide food and shelter. They are browsers and eat leaves and shoots from a variety of plants. In dry seasons, they eat wild watermelons and other fruit for the liquid they provide. The lesser kudu is less dependent on water sources than the greater kudu. Where farming has developed near their habitat, kudus will sometimes make nocturnal visits to plantations and vegetable plots. As they can make spectacular leaps of up to 6 feet, it takes a high fence to keep them out. Caring for the Young Females and their offspring form small groups of six to 10. The males usually only join them during mating season.

The pregnant female departs from her group to give birth, leaving the newborn lying out for 4 or 5 weeks, one of the longest periods of all the antelopes. The calf then begins to accompany its mother for short periods of time and by 3 or 4 months is with her constantly. Soon after, the mother and calf rejoin the female's group. Calves grow rapidly and at 6 months are fairly independent of their mothers. Predators Lions, leopards, hunting dogs and spotted hyenas hunt kudu, and cheetahs, smaller cats, eagles and pythons prey on the young. Their numbers are also affected by humans hunting them for their meat, hides and horns, or using their habitats for charcoal burning and farming. Kudus are highly susceptible to the rinderpest virus, and many scientists think recurring epidemics of the disease have reduced kudu populations in East Africa. Did you know? Their cryptic coloring and markings protect kudus by camouflaging them. If alarmed they usually stand still and are very difficult to spot. Kudus normally restrict their movements to a small home range, but the scarcity of food in dry season may prompt them to roam more widely.

copyright: Paul Janssen kudu | mammal | Britannica.com mammal placental mammal Kudu, two species of spiral-horned antelopes (tribe Tragelaphini, family Bovidae ). The very large greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is common in southern African wildlife reserves. The svelte lesser kudu (T. imberbis) is an elusive dweller in the arid lowland thornbush of northeast and East Africa . Both species have corkscrew horns (in males only), depend on cover for food and concealment, and form small herds. The greater kudu is the tallest antelope after the eland ; males stand 130–150 cm (51–59 inches) but are narrow-bodied, weighing on average 257 kg (567 pounds), with a maximum of 315 kg (694 pounds). Females average 120 cm (47 inches) and 170 kg (370 pounds).

Colour varies from reddish brown to blue-gray with white markings, an adaptation for concealment that includes 6–10 vertical torso stripes, a short spinal crest, a nose chevron, and small cheek patches. The greater kudu also has white forelegs with dark garters and a black-tipped tail. Males have a beard, turn darker with age, and possess the longest horns of any antelope: 120–180 cm (47–71 inches) along the curve. These horns take six years of growth to complete two full turns; the horn’s size and shape keep pace with and advertise the dominance status of the bearer. Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) Jeanne White—The National Audubon Society Collection/EB Inc. The lesser kudu stands only about 100 cm (39 inches) high and weighs 92–108 kg (202–238 pounds). Females and young have a bright rufous coat, which darkens to slate-gray in males.

The lesser kudu is vividly marked with 11–15 vertical white stripes, broad chest and throat patches, a nose chevron, and cheek patches. The legs are tawny and decorated with black and white patches, the tail is bushy with a white underside and a black tip, and there is a short, erectile dorsal crest but no beard. The horns of mature males make two and a half (rarely three) turns and measure 60–90 cm (24–35 inches) along the outer curve. Lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis). duiker Both kudus are cover-dependent browsers that feed on more than 100 different trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, seedpods, and fruits, as well as a little new grass. Eating greens enables them to inhabit waterless country, yet greater kudus regularly drink at water holes. Both species depend on the green growth along watercourses in the dry season and disperse through deciduous woodlands in the rains.

Home ranges may be as small as 55 hectares (136 acres) or as large as 600 hectares (1,500 acres), and bulls studied in South Africa covered 11 square km (4 square miles) in migrating between wet- and dry-season ranges. Both sexes of lesser kudu studied in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park had ranges averaging 230 hectares (570 acres), at an average density of only one kudu per square km (three kudus per square mile). Greater kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). © Peter Betts/Shutterstock.com The greater kudu is still widely distributed in the lowland Bushveld of southern Africa . However, in northeastern and East Africa, humans have crowded it out of the lowlands, and it is largely confined to mountains with dense woodland and thickets. Yet its secretiveness and nocturnal activity enable it to persist unusually close to civilization. The lesser kudu inhabits dense thornbush below 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) above sea level inside and outside East African parks.

Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park. © HPH Image Library/Shutterstock.com In the baking heat of midday, kudus habitually stand motionless and are beautifully camouflaged in thickets. If hiding fails, kudus take abrupt flight with soaring bounds and often utter loud, hoarse barks. Both species occasionally form transitory herds of up to 25 animals, but the typical group consists of two to three females with their offspring. The kudus have stronger social (possibly kinship) bonds than other tragelaphine antelopes (e.g., the eland and nyala ). The sexes segregate except for mating. Males leave female herds at age 11/2 years, when their horns grow past their ears and thus advertise their gender, after which they associate in loose bachelor herds. Up to 10 greater kudu bulls sometimes get together—a grand sight—but males become increasingly solitary with age. Kudus are particularly vulnerable to cattle-borne diseases such as rinderpest , which decimated their populations in the 1890s.

Greater kudu with young (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). © John Carnemolla/Shutterstock.com Kudu | African Wildlife Foundation Physical Characteristics What is a kudu? Both the greater kudu and its close cousin, the lesser kudu, have stripes and spots on the body, and most have a chevron of white hair between the eyes. Males have long, spiral horns. The greater kudu's horns are spectacular and can grow as long as 72 inches, making 2-1/2 graceful twists. Female greater kudus are noticeably smaller than the males. By contrast, lesser kudus are even smaller—about 42 inches at the shoulder. Males weigh around 220 pounds, and females generally weigh about 50 pounds less. Lesser kudus have smaller horns than the greater kudus and conspicuous white patches on the upper and lower parts of the neck. Although both species are bluish-gray, grayish-brown, or rust color, the lesser kudus have five to six more lateral white stripes, for a total of 11 to 15.

Both species have a crest of long hair along the spine, and greater kudus also have a fringe under the chin. Behavior & Diet Kudus love to feast on fruits. Kudus are browsers and eat leaves and shoots from a variety of plants. In dry seasons, they eat wild watermelons and other fruit for the liquid they provide. The lesser kudu is less dependent on water sources than the greater kudu. They are peaceful rulers. Male kudu sometimes form small bachelor groups, but more commonly, they are solitary and widely dispersed. Dominance between males is usually quickly and peacefully determined by a lateral display in which one male stands sideways in front of the other and makes himself look as large as possible. Males only join females—who form small groups of six to 10 with their offspring—during mating season. Calves grow rapidly and at 6 months of age are fairly independent of their mothers. Mothers stash their young out of sight for long periods of time. The pregnant female departs from her group to give birth, leaving the newborn lying out for 4 or 5 weeks of age, one of the longest periods of all the antelopes.

The calf then begins to accompany its mother for short periods of time and by 3 or 4 months of age, it is with her constantly. Soon after, the mother and calf rejoin the female's group. Calves grow rapidly and at 6 months, they are fairly independent of their mothers. They wear camouflage coats. Their cryptic coloring and markings protect kudus by camouflaging them. If alarmed, they usually stand still and are very difficult to spot. Gallery Kudu Facts Kudu Facts Kudu Facts Kudu is a type of an antelope. There are two species of kudu: Lesser Kudu and Greater Kudu. Both of them live in areas characterized by dense bushes or in the forests. Kudu can be found in eastern and southern parts of the Africa. Although local people hunt them for their meat and horns (which are used as music instruments, containers for honey or as a symbol of the male potency), they are not listed as endangered species. Interesting Kudu Facts: Kudus usually reach 4 to 5 feet in height. Males are larger than females: they have 495 to 787 pounds, while females have 396 to 517 pounds.

Kudu is easily recognized by its long, spiral horns. They can reach 72 inches in length, making 2 ½ twists. Both species of the kudu have white lateral stripes and spots on their body. They can be bluish gray, grayish brown or colored like rust. Also, both species have mane on a dorsal (back) side of the body, which follows the line of the spine. Characteristic coloration of their body provides protection against the predators. When kudu sense a danger, it becomes motionless. Its body color blends with the environment and predators cannot recognize it easily. Kudus are hunted by lions, leopards and wild dogs. Cheetah, pythons, eagles and smaller wild cats often prey on young kudus. Besides predators and humans, kudus are susceptible to the rinderpest virus, which eliminated large number of kudus during several epidemics in the past. Kudu is herbivorous animal (eats only plants) which consumes mainly grass, roots, leaves, fruits and tubers. Kudu can survive long period without water. Part of the moisture can be compensated by the food rich in water, such as wild melon.

Kudu is one of the loudest antelopes. It produces gruff like barking sound which is used for communication. 1Male kudus usually live solitary life or rarely form bachelor groups that travel together. Dominance in the group is established via fight. It may end up fatally for both participants if their horns lock together, preventing kudus to separate from each other. Dominance can be displayed by positioning the body sideways (body looks bigger) in front of the other males. Females live in the small groups composed of adult females and their offspring. Groups usually have between six and ten members. Mating season starts at the end of the rainy season. Pregnancy lasts eight months and ends with a single baby. Female leaves the group and isolate herself and the baby for the next couple of months. First four or five weeks of the life, young kudu spends lying in the grass. After that, calf starts to follow its mother during short period of time each day. At the age of three to four months, young kudu follows its mother all the time. When calf becomes able to follow its mother constantly, they will return back to the herd.

Young kudus grow rapidly and they are able to take care of themselves as soon as they turn six months. Kudu lives 7 to 8 years in the wild and up to 23 years in the captivity. Related Links: african Kudu hunting with safaribwana GREATER KUDU - Tragelaphus Strepsiceros One of Africa's most stately and sought after game animals, the kudu is widespread and classified into many different subspecies mainly along geographical variances yet they all sport those magnificent spiral curled horns which never fails to quicken the heartbeat. Kudu are one of the iconic antelope of Africa and perhaps the most hunted due to their relative abundance and distribution across the continent. They make for an excellent hunt if pursued on foot and in earnest. It is easy to get a Kudu in your sights BUT to get a really big bull is one of the better challenges for he African hunter. Part of the spiral horned group of antelope, the kudu is an extremely sensitive and wary quarry, blending in with their surroundings remarkably well, often preferring to stand dead still instead of taking flight.

Kudu have earned the name "the gray ghost of Africa" a description which cannot be more suited to this fine animal. Typical to their cousins, they rely on their unusual gait of walking or simply standing still with large ears flared to hide and protect them from danger. Often all you'll hear are the sound of hooves and the knock of their spiral horns on branches as they take off ahead of you. Kudu habits Kudu are browsers, feeding in the early morning and late afternoon and standing in shade during the heat of the day. They form small family groups usually consisting of cows and young and during the mating season there is always a bull in attendance. Bulls will normally form bachelor herds which can reach up to 10 or more animals however the older bulls remain solitary for much of their lives. Kudu hunting tips - the hunt The best time to hunt kudu is early morning or late evening, by walking or glassing from vantage points such as hills and across plains and dambos. Sometimes they are quite inquisitive and will give the hunter ample opportunity for a shot.

Some hunters believe the best time to find them is midday as they stand beneath shaded trees and form a dark outline which is clearly visible instead of blending in with their surroundings. Bulls also tend to rest by lying down and if you are vigilant and glass an area well you'll pick up the protruding horns between the brush and grass. Kudu hunting tips - the caliber Although they are large bodied, any good plains game caliber starting from 270 Magnum upwards is sufficient. As with all African antelope, medium to heavy grained soft-nosed bullets are best. Kudu hunting tips - the trophy Measurements are taken from the base of the horns, along the spiral ridge to the tip and adding the circumference of the bases. Any kudu with horns over 50 inches is a good trophy but most PHs will use 55 inches as a starting point. The horns usually must be going into their third full curl. The curls must be deep, almost like a half coiled spring and should not appear stretched out. The easiest way to judge the size is from a facing position where the horn silhouette should resemble the curves of a tall, small-waisted woman.

Wide spread horns are impressive however are usually misleading and score lower than deep curled narrower horns. Kudu hunting tips - where The Southern Greater Kudu is the largest of all the species, with the Eastern Cape, East African, Abyssinian and Western varieties being slightly smaller in body and horn length. However good kudu are found in most African hunting countries and all display the same distinctive alert nature. In some regions of Africa the conditions, such as arid inhospitable areas, do have an effect on trophy size. The countries consistently producing the best Southern Greater Kudu today, are the northern and northeast regions of South Africa, southern to central Zimbabwe where 55 inches should be the minimum starting point. Namibia has recently been noted for big trophies as well with prices currently being the best on the continent. Zambia and Mozambique are also good non-ranch style hunts for wild Kudu. The East Cape Greater Kudu subspecies is restricted to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The animals are smaller bodied and their coats tend to be longer haired, especially around the neck area, and are often more spectacular looking due to their variation in color.

The true definition of an eastern cape kudu is vague as recent translocation of Kudu from the Northern parts of south Africa in order to stock game ranches where regular hunting takes place has led to larger genes introduced to the regions where the cape kudu occurs. The East African Greater Kudu are widespread throughout east Africa with Tanzania being the best hunting option. They tend to have more pronounced color with prominent white vertical stripes and back mane. The much talked about lesser Kudu is a distinct species found from east Africa upwards and today is becoming a much sought after game trophy due to its scarcity. Tanzania, CAR and Ethiopia tend to produce the best options at these animals. Kudu - facts and figures * Kudu bulls sport a magnificent mane or beard which runs down the front of their necks. When old they tend to loose much of their hair on the neck and shoulders but the beard remains. * Kudu meat is one of the best tasting of all African animals and they have been a source of protein for many centuries.

* Despite what you may read, Kudu numbers are very resilient and they are in no way threatened or endangered in their natural ranges * The Lesser Kudu is a much smaller antelope and is found from east Africa - Tanzania - northwards to Ethiopia. They are much smaller in body and horn size and are quite distinct. Overall they are a much more rare animal than the greater Kudu. CITES Greater kudu Greater kudu Citation: Misc. Zool., p. 9. Type locality: South Africa, Cape of Good Hope; or Namibia, Gammafluss (= Lowen River). The taxonomic record (above) is taken from Wilson and Reeder (1993). Invalid synonyms for Tragelaphus strepsiceros include abyssinicus, bea, burlacei, capensis, chora, cottoni, excelsus, frommi, hamiltoni, koodoo, torticornis, and zambesiensis (Wilsona nd Reeder, 1993).

Click on the pictures above for a larger view of the photographs General Characteristics Body Length: 185-245 cm / 6.1-8.1 ft Shoulder Height: 100-160 cm / 3.2-5.2 ft Tail Length: 30-55 cm / 12-22 in Weight: 120-315 kg / 264-787 lb. The short, smooth coat varies in general colour from tan-grey to bluish grey in colour. There are numerous white markings, including 6-10 vertical stripes along the sides, a chevron between the eyes, and cheek spots. On the neck and shoulders is an erectile crest, while underneath a mane extends along the throat. The black-tipped, bushy tail is white underneath, and there are black garters on the upper legs. The ears of the greater kudu are large and round. The spiralled horns are found only in males and have up to 3 full turns, diverging slightly as they slant back from the head. They can grow 100-140 cm / 40-56 inches long.

Ontogeny and Reproduction Sexual Maturity: Females at 15-21 months, males at 21-24 months Life span: Up to 23 years Females separate themselves from the herd just before giving birth, leaving the calf lying in concealment. After the calf has matured slightly, the mother will return with her baby to the herd. The majority of births occur from January to March, the wet season. Ecology and Behavior Greater kudu may be active throughout the 24-hour day. The large ears are extremely sensitive to noise, making these shy antelope difficult to approach. Under normal circumstance, kudu will sneak away and hide from potential enemies. When startled, however, they flee with large jumps with their tails rolled upwards and forwards. Kudu often stop and look back after a running for a short distance - a frequently fatal habit. Despite their large size, kudu are accomplished jumpers, with records of heights of over 2.5 meters / 8.25 feet being cleared with ease. Herds disperse during the rainy season when food is plentiful, while as the dry season reaches its peak, there becomes a high concentration in favourable areas.

Greater kudu are not territorial, although they do have 'home' areas. Maternal herds have home ranges of approximately 4 square kilometers which overlap with those of other groups. Home ranges of adult males are about 11 square kilometers, and generally encompass the ranges of two or three female groups. Population densities vary from 1.9-3.2 animals per square kilometer. The spiral horns are so well developed for wrestling that they can sometimes become so severely interlocked that the two animals fighting cannot release each other, and thus both die. Greater kudu have a wide repertoire of vocalizations, including barks, grunts, hooting bleats, and a strangulated whimper. Family group: Small single sex groups up to 10, though congregations of 20-30 individuals have been recorded. Diet: Leaves and grasses Main Predators: Lion, Cape hunting dog, leopard. Distribution Woodlands, scrub, and open forests up to 2,450 m / 8,000 ft in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Countries: Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe (IUCN, 2002). Range Map (Redrawn from IAE, 1998) Conservation Status The greater kudu is considered a low risk, conservation dependent species by the IUCN (2002), and is not listed by CITES. Remarks Kudu, or koodoo, is the Hottentot name for this antelope. Tragos (Greek) a he-goat;.elaphos (Greek) a deer, in combination referring to an antelope. Strepho (Greek) I twist, so strephis, a twisting; keras (Greek) the horn of an animal. French Großer Kudu(Walther, 1990) Literature Cited IEA (Institute of Applied Ecology) 1998. Tragelaphus strepsiceros.

In African Mammals Databank - A Databank for the Conservation and Management of the African Mammals Vol 1 and 2. Bruxelles: European Commission Directorate. Available online at IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available online at Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: NaturalWorld. Nowak, R. M. [editor]. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World (Fifth Edition). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Walther, F. R. 1990. Spiral-horned antelopes. In Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Edited by S. P. Parker. New York: McGraw-Hill. Volume 5, pp. 344-359. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder [editors]. 1993. Mammal Species of the World (Second Edition). Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Available online at Additional Resources Alden, P. C., R. D. Estes, D. Schlitter, and B. McBride. 1995. National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife. New York: Chanticleer Press. Boitani, L., and S. Bartoli. 1982. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. New York: Fireside/Simon & Schuster, Inc. Entry 379. Cronje, H. P., B. K. Reilly, and I. D. Macfadyen. 2002. Natural mortality among four common ungulate species on Letaba Ranch, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Koedoe 45(1): 79-86. Dorgeloh, W. G. 2001. Relationship between distribution of kudu and woody plant structure. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 31(3-4): 85-91. Katsy, G. D., M. Y. Treus, and V. N. Zubko. 1987.

Dermal structure in antelopes in Ascania-Nove Reseve, USSR. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal 66(8): 1239-1245. Nersting, L. G., and P. Arctander. 2001. Phylogeography and conservation of impala and greater kudu. Molecular Ecology 10(3): 711-719. Owen-Smith, N. 1984b. Demography of greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros in relation to rainfall. Acta Zoologica Fennica 172: 197-199. Owen-Smith, N. 1993. Age, size, dominance and reproduction among male kudus: Mating enhancement by attrition of rivals. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 32(3): 177-184. Owen-Smith, N. 1993. Comparative mortality rates of male and female kudus: The costs of sexual size dimorphism.

Journal of Animal Ecology 62(3): 428-440 Perrin, M. R. 1999. The social organisation of the greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Pallas 1766). Tropical Zoology 12(2): 169-208. Perrin, M. R., and T. S. Allen-Rowlandson. 1992. Aspects of the spatial and social organization of the greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros. Ongules/Ungulates 91: 249-253. Perrin, M. R., and T. S. Allen-Rowlandson. 1993. Spatial organisation of the greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Mammalia, Ungulata). Rev. Zool. Africaine 107(6): 561-570.

Spiral-horned Antelope | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants GENERA: Ammelaphus, Strepsiceros, and Taurotragus SPECIES: 8 ABOUT Theodore Roosevelt once described greater kudu as the handsomest of game animals. Greater kudu bulls are much larger than the cows, outweighing them by up to 220 pounds (100 kilograms). Built-in corkscrews: If an animal is called a spiral-horned antelope, you'd better believe it’s going to have a set of spiraling horns on its head! Kudu and eland fit this category. The bulls (males) have these impressive hood ornaments. In the eland species, the cows (females) have them, too. So, how do the horns grow in a spiral? The twisting is a result of a growth pulse. The horn material grows faster and thinner at certain times, and then thicker and slower at other times. An animal’s genes control growth pulses. The giant eland is also known as the Lord Derby's eland.

The 13th Earl of Derby had a large, private zoo on the grounds of his home in England during the early 19th century. Spiral-horned antelope bulls tend to be heavier and darker than the cows. In eland, the bulls' horns are always heavier and longer than the cows' and often have more spirals. The spirals help the bulls lock horns with each other when engaged in fights over cows. As its name suggests, the giant eland is the world's largest antelope species. Greater or Cape kudu bulls have the longest horns. From tip to tip, the horns can grow up to 28 inches (71 centimeters) long. But if you were to straighten out the spirals, the horns would be up to 35 inches (89.5 centimeters) long. Lesser kudu are great jumpers and can leap over obstacles up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) high. Kudu have a sleek, brownish gray coat with vertical white stripes on the body. These help make them hard to find in the dappled sunlight coming through trees.

Lesser kudu also have white chevrons between their eyes and white patches on their neck. The cows and calves are redder in color, which gives them better camouflage in their woodland habitat. Both male and female eland, like these Patterson eland, have horns. Eland are light brown but may turn gray with age. Thin, vertical white stripes on the side are barely visible. Both bulls and cows have dewlaps, although these are much larger on the bulls. Antelope are popular prey for Africa’s large carnivores. If danger approaches, kudu and eland may freeze, run, or jump away, depending on the circumstance. Bulls are often lost to lions, cows to spotted hyenas. Leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs prey on subadults and calves. In some parts of Africa, only half of spiral-horned youngsters live past six months. It’s a tough life out there! HABITAT AND DIET The six spiral-horned antelope species live in areas of Africa below the Sahara Desert. They are able to eat a variety of food, depending on what's available, unlike mammals with more specialized diets.

Greater kudu are found in woodland and hilly areas of eastern, central, and southern Africa. Other kudu species live in thicket vegetation, dry woodlands, or savannas in eastern and southern Africa. Common and giant eland live in savanna and woodland habitats of southern, central, and eastern Africa. Common eland are found in southern, central, and eastern Africa, in savanna and woodland habitats. In general, these antelope spend their day foraging, resting to ruminate, moving to another area, and standing alert. They seek cover during the heat of day and groom themselves in the late afternoon. Giant eland are more active at night. As browsers, the muzzle of eland and kudu species is more slender and narrow than that of their grass-eating relatives. They can pick out high-quality foods such as fruits, seedpods, flowers, leaves, and bark. Spiral-horned antelope have small, low-crowned teeth. Their digestive systems don't process fibrous food, such as grass, as well as their cattle relatives. When eating, they use their massive horns to break off branches to reach tasty leaves. Giant eland bulls break branches to provide food for the cows and calves!

The horns are also handy for digging up thick-leafed plants, melons, bulbs, roots, and onions. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, our eland and kudu eat high-fiber copper fortified pellet, and Bermuda and Sudan hay. They get folivore biscuits as training treats. FAMILY LIFE Lesser kudu are classified as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As most eland and kudu live in areas with thick vegetation, they form small herds. Greater kudu herds consist of 3 to 10 cows and their young. Bulls are usually solitary or live in loose all-male groups except during the breeding season. Lesser kudu are not as social as greater kudu, usually living alone or in pairs, and are more active at night. Eland are social animals that live in herds of 25 to 70 animals. Spiral-horned antelope are quiet most of the time. When alarmed, they make a sharp barking sound. Greater kudu win the prize for the loudest alarm bark in the African antelope category!

But during courtship, adult males whine, grunt, knee-click, bleat, or make gasping sounds—anything to impress the ladies! Mature males may spar with each other for breeding rights by pushing and twisting and interlocking their horns. These antelope also use vegetation to hide their newborn calves during the day. The cow tucks her single newborn away and visits it for nursing, which keeps the calf out of sight from predators. It is called a tucker baby. A tucker baby only comes of out hiding when it hears its mother call, letting the baby know it’s time to eat. Every tucker baby knows the sound of its own mother's call. Kudu have a sleek brownish-gray coat with vertical white stripes, making them hard to spot in dappled sunlight coming through the trees of their habitat. Kudu and eland calves are weaned at around six months old. Male offspring stay with the mother for up to two years. They then live with other young males for the next two to three years and become solitary when mature, at four to five years. The growth rate for a giant eland is quick, due to its mother's rich milk.

AT THE ZOO The San Diego Zoo obtained its first spiral-horned antelope, some eland, from the St. Louis Zoo in 1941, and greater kudu in trade from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 1946. From there, our collection has grown. Today, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has herds of both common and Cape or greater eland in its large South Africa field exhibit. Our greater kudu herd lives in the Central Africa field exhibit. All can be viewed from the popular Africa Tram tour or more closely on a Caravan Safari tour. CONSERVATION Eland are raised like domesticated cattle in parts of Africa for their hide, milk, and meat. In other parts of Africa, both eland and kudu are hunted in an unsustainable manner for their meat. Some hunters kill the animals just to take their spiral horns as trophies. Lesser kudu Tragelaphus imberbis are classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. You can help us bring species back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe.

LIFE SPAN designeranimals2011 - The Greater Kudu designeranimals2011 The Metalope (Future Animal)>>> The Greater Kudu (Modern Animal) The Greater Kudu, a species of antelopes similar to the Springbok , scientifically known as the Tragelaphus Strepsiceros. They are known to be the 2nd largest type of antelopes in the world. Male Greater Kudus whole body length is around 74-98inches, Torso Length 14.5-19inches, height length 39-70 inches and they weigh exceedingly heavy from 420-700lbs. There are mainly two types of Kudus: The Greater Kudu and The Lesser Kudu. They are hunted by humans for their amazing horns, and they were used as musical instruments, honey containers and it was a Jewish ritual horn.

Their current conversation status is least concern Kingdom: Animalia Species: Tragelaphus strepsiceros Habitat/Diet Kudus are only found in Africa, places such as southern Chad, northern Central African Republic, western and eastern Sudan, northeast Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Namibia, Angola, and southeast Congo mainly in however they are mainly in Southern Africa where the climate is not too hot but not too cold, during summer temperatures ranges from 25-30 degrees Celsius, while in Winter temperature ranges from 10-20 degrees Celsius. They prefer to live in woodlands and bush lands, dry riverbeds, and rocky hillsides which provide good cover for their shelter they also tend to live near areas with a water supply. However the Greater Kudu are browsers meaning they could travel for long distances and a long period of time without drinking water. Therefore they could survive in such drier areas in Africa such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia Malewi etc. The Kudu tends to avoid open Fig1,2 Parts of South Africa where The Greater Kudu are Inhabitants.

arid spaces since they could be easily shot down by Hunters and they could be taken down by their predators such as wild dogs, hyenas, eagles and pythons, etc therefore the greater Kudu tends to stick to woodland areas and grasslands where there is plenty of cover making them more safe. The Greater Kudu shares lands with animals such as with . African Elephants ,Giraffes, hippopotamus’, zebras, jackals, foxes etc. Theirreproductive areas are grasslands to avoid any predators. This reproductive period is mainly from January to March, the end of the rainy season since grass will be tall during this period however it can vary depending on region and climate. As you can see in Fig 1,2 you will see the main areas where they would appear, and the amount of Greater Kudu inhabitants in that certain area of Africa. The GreaterKudus are herbivores, vegetarian so therefore it does not have to hunt for meat, it only consumes fruits (oranges, watermelons etc), leaves, grass, shoots and also flowers. Fig 3 The Greater Kudu prefers grasslands to be their habitat Structural Adaptations of the Greater Kudu 1.

The sharp senses of the Greater Kudu help them adapt to their surrounding environment efficiently, such adaptations are their wide enlarged ears which gives them very powerful hearing senses. Their ears benefits the Greater Kudu since they aren’t long distance sprinters because of its low stamina, therefore it makes the Kudu more aware of predators near the area giving them a head start to flee and to hide, therefore making it harder for predators to approach and hunt the Greater Kudu. Environmental Pressure: It has been assumed that they have adapted this way, because in the past their ancestors lacked the needed hearing ability in order to survive making it easier for predators to attack them. Leading their species to decline in numbers, therefore their ears grew throughout the years, improving their hearing senses. 2.The skin colour of the Greater Kudu helps them camouflage to their dry woodland environment very well. Their coating colour tends to be a mixture of brown blue and grey or a reddish grey colour.

They also possess stripes located on their torso ranging from 4-12 stripes, their stripes are similar to a tiger's stripe but much thinner, the advantage of this is since most of it’s predators such as, wild dogs and hyenas are color blind, it appear to them as black and white shades, looking like twigs or tiny trees and their color is the same as their living environment, making it hard for hunters to spot. This benefits the Greater Kudus, since it is easier for them to hide from predators or hunters by blending in their surrounding environment. Environmental Pressure: In my opinion as the climate changes throughout the years, the texture and the color of grass, trees and bushes will also have been altered. In order for them to survive their colour coating had to be similar to it’s surrounding minimizing it’s chances of being spotted, causing it to adapt this way. Behavioral Adaptations of The Greater Kudu 1. The Greater Kudu is known for one of its amazing behavioral adaptation which is its long spiral shaped horns, which are usually 120 cm long (42 inches).

Their fascinating horns aren’t used for hunting other animals since the Greater Kudu is a vegetarian, but it is for proving dominance over another Male Greater Kudu impress other Kudu’s of the opposite sex or to win over food .This is determined by sparring, wrestling against each other (normally kudus which are the same size), by interlocking their horns together, the winner is decided when one of the Kudu backs out and declares defeat. There are cases when two kudus were unable to separate their horns leading to death however this is rarely seen. Occasionally female kudus do grow horns but it is unlikely, the female kudu fends off unwanted attention of the male kudus not by their horns but by biting it. By being the most dominant it will most likely have mating rights, passing on their genes to the next generation. Environmental Pressure: Throughout the years they formed herds, in my opinion its neighbour animals had done the same, however there was a leader among them. They copied their ways and thought there must be a leader, which resulted them to spar with their horns in order to prove their dominance. 2.

The Greater Kudu of both sex has distinct grouping habits, male kudus will usually form temporary bachelor groups ranging from 2-10 however there has been cases of a group of 30 male kudus, older kudus tends to be more solitary, whereas the female kudus consists of 10-15 a group, however male and female kudus won’t have any involvement between one another, the only relationship is during their mating season. Newly born calves lies on tall grasses for up to a month away from herds, and is nursed by its mother several times a day usually for up to a month, once they join the herd new calves will create their own group “The nursery group”, the calves will have no relationship with other adult kudu’s but only their mother. These groups are not territorial, but the group’s home ranges from 1.5 to 4.5 square miles. Environmental Pressure: The Greater Kudus were not long distance runners because of it’s lack of stamina, making them easy targets for predators.

By forming groups the chances of one Greater Kudu killed will be lowered since there might be 12 of them and there will be more eyes and ears to spot predators, also by forming groups it is easier to scavenge for food, this is why it adapted this way. 3.Both gender of the Greater Kudu owns a bushy tail, their tails aren’t there just for show, they are used as alarm systems. As Greater Kudus females and males form their own groups they tend to stick together, but once they are alarmed and chased by predators they will lift up that bushy tail and expose the color white underneath, alerting other group members to hide, since Greater Kudus are color blind they could only seen in shades of black and whi te, therefore the white stands out in their eyes making it easier to see if their fellow companions are in danger. Environmental Pressure: As The Greater Kudus are frequently attacked by predators, they somehow managed to for a signal to let their companions be aware of it’s predators around the area, therefore it does this by lifting its tail up, and possibly as the underside of the tail is not exposed to the sun as often it formed a while colour.

Greater Kudu Diagrams Diagram 1 Structural and Behavioral adaptations Diagram 2 Structural and Behavioral adaptations Bibliography Bibliography HUNTING, U. (2006, N/A N/A). UITSPAN HUNTING. Retrieved 6 21, 2011, from The Greater Kuu: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. (2009, N/A N/A). Retrieved June 22, 2011, from Bio Facts Greater Kudu: The ICUN Red List of Endangered Species. (2008, N/A N/A). Retrieved June 17, 2011, from Red List: Zookeeper's Journal. (2010, January 10). Retrieved June 22, 2011, from The Greater Kudu:

Question: What type of animal is a kudu?
Answer: Antelope