Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Description - Other Names - Distribution - Taxonomy

Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) Silhouette

Quick stats

Diet: - Herbivore
Shoulder Height: - 1.34 m
Weight: - Male - 252 kg
Weight: - Female - 190 kg
Lifespan - 16 years

Description

Kudu Bull © D Beyers

Kudu are browsers and prefer areas quite heavily covered with low trees. They are commonly found in southern Africa and are found in small herds comprising one or two adult males, two or three adult females, and one or more juveniles.

Adult males are easily recognized by their magnificent horns twisted into a characteristic spiral while females have no horns. Their large, rounded ears can be twisted in virtually any direction to locate any sounds of possible threat. The white underside of a kudu tail, which is exposed when running, is claimed to enable members of the herd to see each other more clearly and so remain together when fleeing from a predator.

Males will fight for the privilege of mating and in a few instances dead kudu have been found with their horns inextricably intertwined, presumably having starved as a result of being unable to separate. A single calf is born after a gestation period of 7 months.

Other Names

Koedoe

Distribution

Distribution map
of the
Kudu

Taxonomy

Order - Artiodactyla
Family - Bovidae
Sub Family - Bovinae
Genus - Tragelaphus
Species - Tragelaphus strepsiceros

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