Greater kudu
Greater kudu | |
---|---|
Adult male | |
Adult female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Bovidae |
Subfamily: | Bovinae |
Genus: | Tragelaphus |
Species: | T. strepsiceros
|
Binomial name | |
Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Pallas, 1766)
| |
Subspecies | |
| |
Ranges of the subspecies
T. s. cottoni
T. s. chora
T. s. strepsiceros
| |
Synonyms | |
Strepsiceros chora |
The greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a large woodland antelope, found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation, and poaching.[2] The greater kudu is one of two species commonly known as kudu, the other being the lesser kudu, T. imberbis.
Etymology
Kudu (
Physical characteristics
Greater kudus have a narrow
The greater kudu is one of the largest species of antelope, being slightly smaller than the bongo. Bulls weigh 190–270 kg (420–600 lb), with a maximum of 315 kg (694 lb), and stand up to 160 cm (63 in) tall at the shoulder. The ears of the greater kudu are large and round. Cows weigh 120–210 kg (260–460 lb) and stand as little as 100 cm (39 in) tall at the shoulder; they are hornless, without a beard or nose markings. The head-and-body length is 185–245 cm (6.07–8.04 ft), to which the tail may add a further 30–55 cm (12–22 in).[3]
-
Close-up of femalePilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa
Taxonomy and subspecies
Phylogenetic relationships of the mountain nyala from combined analysis of all molecular data (Willows-Munro et.al. 2005) |
Formerly four subspecies have been described, but recently only one to three subspecies have been accepted based on colour, number of stripes and horn length:[6]
- T. s. strepsiceros – southern parts of the range from southern Kenya to Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa
- T. s. chora – northeastern Africa from northern Kenya through Ethiopia to eastern Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea
- T. s. cottoni – Chad and western Sudan
This classification was supported by the genetic difference of one specimen of northern Kenya (T. s. chora) in comparison with several samples from the southern part of the range between Tanzania and Zimbabwe (T. s. strepsiceros). No specimen of the northwestern population, which may represent a third subspecies (T. s. cottoni), was tested within this study.[6]
In Groves and Grubb's book Ungulate Taxonomy, a recent taxonomic revision was made that evaluated all species and subspecies of kudu and other ungulates. This review split the genus
Range and ecology
The
During the day, greater kudus normally cease to be active and instead seek cover under woodland, especially during hot days. They feed and drink in the early morning and late afternoon, acquiring water from waterholes or roots and bulbs that have a high water content. Although they tend to stay in one area, the greater kudu may search over a large distance for water in times of drought, in southern Namibia where water is relatively scarce they have been known to cover extensive distances in very short periods of time.[2]
Predation
Behavior and social organization
Greater kudus have a lifespan of 7 to 8 years in the wild, and up to 23 years in captivity. They may be active throughout the 24-hour day. Herds disperse during the rainy season when food is plentiful. During the dry season, there are only a few concentrated areas of food so the herds will congregate.[3] Greater kudu are not territorial; they have home areas instead. Maternal herds have home ranges of approximately 4 square kilometers and these home ranges can overlap with other maternal herds. Home ranges of adult males are about 11 square kilometers and generally encompass the ranges of two or three female groups.[3] Females usually form small groups of 6–10 with their offspring, but sometimes they can form a herd up to 20 individuals. Male kudus may form small bachelor groups, but they are more commonly found as solitary and widely dispersed individuals. Solitary males will join the group of females and calves (usually 6–10 individuals per group) only during the mating season (April–May in South Africa).[12]
The male kudus are not always physically aggressive with each other, but sparring can sometimes occur between males, especially when both are of similar size and stature. The male kudus exhibit this sparring behavior by interlocking horns and shoving one another. Dominance is established until one male exhibits the lateral display.[13] In rare circumstances, sparring can result in both males being unable to free themselves from the other's horns, which can then result in the death of both animals.
Rarely will a herd reach a size of forty individuals, partly because of the selective nature of their diet which would make foraging for food difficult in large groups.[2] A herd's area can encompass 800 to 1,500 acres (3.2 to 6.1 km2), and spend an average of 54% of the day foraging for food.[14]
Reproduction
Greater kudus reach
Greater kudus tend to bear one calf, although occasionally there may be two. The pregnant female kudu will leave her group to give birth; once she gives birth, the newborn is hidden in vegetation for about 4 to 5 weeks (to avoid predation).[12] After 4 or 5 weeks, the offspring will accompany its mother for short periods of time; then by 3 to 4 months of age, it will accompany her at all times.[12] By the time it is 6 months old, it is quite independent of its mother. The majority of births occur during the wet season (January to March).[13] In terms of maturity, female greater kudus reach sexual maturity at 15–21 months. Males reach maturity at 21–24 months.[3]
Human interaction
Greater kudus have both benefited and suffered from interaction with
Status
The greater kudu population in the northern part of its range has declined due to excessive hunting and rapid habitat loss. However, they are evaluated as low risk in the IUCN Red List of endangered species. The long-term survival of the greater kudu at large is not in jeopardy as populations located elsewhere remain robust and well-managed.[1] The greater kudu receives adequate protection from southern Tanzania to South Africa. There are large populations in parks and reserves such as
See also
- Lesser kudu
- Kudu dung spitting
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0951856634.
- ^ a b c d e f Brent Huffman. "Greater Kudu. An Ultimate Ungulate Fact Sheet".
- ^ "Kudu - East Cape". Noorsveld Safaris. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ "Kudu | African Wildlife Foundation". www.awf.org. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
- ^ S2CID 23102044.
- ^ Newell, Toni Lynn. "Tragelaphus strepsiceros (greater kudu)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
- ^ African Wildlife Foundation (n.d.) Kudu. Web. 4 March 2015. http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/kudu
- ^ Mills, M. G. L., & Biggs, H. C. (1993). Prey apportionment and related ecological relationships between large carnivores in Kruger National Park. In Symposia of the Zoological Society of London (Vol. 65, pp. 253-268).
- .
- PMID 18177336.
- ^ a b c "The Kudu". African Wildlife Foundation.
- ^ a b c "Information About the Greater Kudu". The Nature Conservancy. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
- ^ "Greater Kudu - A Gracious Antelope - Shamwari Private Game Reserve". Shamwari. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ "Toronto Zoo | Animals". www.torontozoo.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ "50 Cents, Eritrea". en.numista.com.
- ^ "Biodiversity Statistics: Most recent estimates (2010-2011)". SANParks: Kruger National Park. Archived from the original on 19 September 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2015.