The Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) is a medium-sized African antelope. It is an ungulate mammal (it has hoofed feet).

The Lesser Kudu is narrow-bodied with a small head and huge cupped ears. It has a distinct white patch on its upper and lower throat, with two white cheek spots and a chevron stripe from its eyes. It is blue-grey, darkening in colour with age. It has up to 14 vertical bright 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 males have horns.

It grows to 160-175 centimetres (63-69 inches) long and 90-105 centimetres (35-41 inches) tall. The male’s horns are 50-70 centimetres (20-27inches) long.

It is native to eastern Africa, from Ethiopia and Somalia to Kenya and Tanzania. It prefers arid savannahs.

The Lesser Kudu is a browser, eating plants, herbs, leaves, tubers, flowers, and fruit. It is both diurnal and nocturnal – active day and night.

It is a great jumper. It can jump, or leap, up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) high.

Females are called cows, and males are called bulls. They live in small herds of about 10 individuals.

Females are pregnant for 7.5 to 8 months, before giving birth to one single young, called a calf.

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM