The Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is an ungulate (hoofed) mammal in the Bovidae family of cattle and antelopes.

The Greater Kudu is narrow-bodied with a small head and huge cupped ears. It has a chevron stripe between its eyes, and two white cheek spots. It has a beard along its throat, usually only on males. Females may have a white fringe on her throat. It is sandy-brown to grey, darkening in colour with age. It has 6-10 vertical white stripes on its body. It has a short bushy tail, black-tipped with white underneath. On its legs are black garters (a stripe or line). Only the male has horns – the horns have two spirals.

It grows to 190-250 centimetres (75-98 inches) long and 100-150 centimetres (39-59 inches) tall. The male’s horns are 100-140 centimetres (39-55 inches) long.

It is native to eastern and southern Africa. It prefers woodlands and bushlands, particularly along rivers.

The Greater Kudu is a browser, eating plants, vines, leaves, tubers, flowers, and fruit.

It lives in small herds of 20-30 individuals.

The female is called a cow, and a male is called a bull. The female is pregnant for 9 months, before giving birth to one single young, called a calf.

 

 

 

 

 

Location of photographs: Kenya and the Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM