Lesser kudu

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Lesser kudu
Adult male

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Tragelaphus
Species:
T. imberbis
Binomial name
Tragelaphus imberbis
(Blyth, 1869)
Range map
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Ammelaphus strepsiceros (Heller, 1912)
  • Ammelaphus australis (Heller, 1913)

The lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) is a medium-sized

zoologist Edward Blyth
(1869).

The lesser kudu’s nose-to-tail length is typically 110–140 cm (43–55 in). Males reach about 95–105 cm (37–41 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 90–100 cm (35–39 in). Males typically weigh 92–108 kg (203–238 lb) and females 56–70 kg (123–154 lb). Horns are present only on males. The spiral horns are 50–70 cm (20–28 in) long, and have 2-2.5 complete twists. The lesser kudus have very distinctive physical markings; females and juveniles have a golden-brown coat, with white vertical stripes on their sides, while the males develop into a dark grey colour—after about two years—and grow a pronounced “streak” of shaggy hair down the centre of their backs. Males retain the golden-brown color only on the shins, with the top of each thigh having a darker black band separating it from the grey body. The inner thighs are white. Males also have distinct black “masks” on their faces, with a black underside going up to the sternum. Males and females both display a series of unique white markings and patches, including white lips, two small spots on both cheeks, a spot at the base of each ear, two spots between the eyes, white eyelids, a white throat patch, and a patch of white atop the chest. These markings may aid in camouflaging and hiding amidst shrubbery, as well as helping to cool specific areas of the body by being white.

A pure browser, the lesser kudu subsists off of foliage from tall bushes, trees (fresh branch shoots, twigs) and herbaceous perennial plants. Despite seasonal and local fluctuations, foliage from trees and shrubs constitutes 60–80% of their diet throughout the year. The lesser kudu is mainly

crepuscular
, preferring to be active after dusk until the dawn hours, seeking shelter in dense thickets just after the sunrise. The lesser kudu exhibits no territorial behaviour, and fights are rare. While females are gregarious, adult males prefer being solitary. No fixed breeding season is seen; births may occur at any time of the year. The lesser kudu inhabits dry bushland regions, bordering on arid grasslands, as well as scrubland and light open forest habitat.

The lesser kudu is native to

near threatened
".

Taxonomy and genetics

Phylogenetic relationships of the mountain nyala from combined analysis of all molecular data (Willows-Munro et.al. 2005)

The

Afrikaans koedoe.[6] The term "lesser" denotes the smaller size of this antelope as compared to the greater kudu.[4]

In 1912, the genus Ammelaphus was established for just the lesser kudu by American zoologist Edmund Heller, the type species being A. strepsiceros.[2] The lesser kudu is now typically placed in Tragelaphus.[3] However, a 2011 publication by Colin Groves and Peter Grubb argues for the lesser kudu's renewed placement in the genus Ammelaphus on the grounds that this species is part of the earliest-diverging lineage of its tribe, having split from the main lineage before it separated into Tragelaphus and Taurotragus.[7]

In 2005, Sandi Willows-Munro (of the

sister clade around 13.7 million years ago. However, the nuclear data show that lesser kudu and nyala form a clade, and collectively separated from the sister clade 13.8 million years ago.[10][11]

The lesser kudu has 38

subfamily Tragelaphinae, the X chromosome and Y chromosome are compound and each is fused with one of two identical autosomes.[12]

Physical description

Male lesser kudu

The lesser kudu is a spiral-horned antelope. The head-and-body length is typically between 110 and 140 cm (43 and 55 in). Males reach about 95–105 cm (37–41 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 90–100 cm (35–39 in). Males typically weigh 92–108 kg (203–238 lb) and females 56–70 kg (123–154 lb).[13] The bushy tail is 25–40 cm (9.8–15.7 in) long, white underneath and with a black tip at the end.[14]

Distinct signs of

chevron is present between the eyes. The area around the lips is white, the throat has white patches, and two white spots appear on each side of the lower jaw. The underparts are completely white, while the slender legs are tawny and have black and white patches.[14] The lesser kudu is characterised by large, rounded ears. Its tracks are similar to the greater kudu's.[15] Females have four teats.[4] The average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, and 15 years in captivity.[14]

Horns are present only on males. The spiral horns are 50–70 cm (20–28 in) long, and have two to two-and-a-half twists.[13] The base circumference is 156–171 cm (61–67 in).[14] The slender horns are dark brown and tipped with white.[4] Male young begin developing horns after 6-8 months, which reach full length after 3 years.[14]

Ecology and behaviour

Dvůr Králové Zoo

The lesser kudu is mainly active at night and during the dawn, and seeks shelter in dense thickets just after the sunrise.

bushbuck's, then makes multiple leaps up to 2 m (6.6 ft) high with an upraised tail. If captured by the predator, the victim gives a loud bleat.[13]

Lesser kudus are gregarious in nature, especially females. No distinct leader or any hierarchy is noted in the social structure; with no territorial behavior, fights are uncommon. While fighting, the lesser kudus interlock horns and try pushing one another. Mutual grooming is hardly observed.[4] Unlike most tragelaphines, females can be closely associated for several years. One to three females, along with their offspring, may form a group. Juvenile males leave their mothers when aged a year and a half, and may form pairs. However, at the age of 4-5 years, males prefer a solitary lifestyle and avoid one another, though four or five bulls may share the same home range. Lesser kudu do not usually associate with other animals, except when they feed in the same area.[13][16]

Diet

Feeding female and juvenile

A pure browser, the lesser kudu feeds on foliage from bushes and trees (shoots, twigs) and herbs.

Acacia tortilis), while small fruits (such as Commiphora species) are directly plucked from trees. The size and structure of its stomach also suggests its primary dependence on browse.[4]

The lesser kudu browses primarily at dusk or dawn, or nocturnally, [17] and is sometimes associated with gerenuk and the impala.[4] The lesser kudu and the gerenuk might compete for evergreen species in the dry season.[4] However, unlike the gerenuk, the lesser kudu rarely prefers Acacia species and does not stand on its hindlegs while feeding.[13] The lesser kudu does not have a great requirement for water, and can browse in arid environments.[14] It eats succulent plants, such as the wild sisal, Sansevieria, and Euphorbia species in the dry season, and drinks water when sources are available.[4][13]

Reproduction

Both the males and females become sexually mature by the time they are a year and a half old. However, males actually mate after the age of four to five years.

estrus, the male follows her closely, trying to rub his cheek on her rump, head, neck, and chest. He performs gasping movements with his lips. Finally, the male mounts the female, resting his head and neck on her back, in a similar way as other tragelaphines.[4][13]

The gestational period is 7-8 months, after which a single calf is born. A female about to give birth isolates herself from her group, and remains alone for some days afterward. The newborn calf weighs 4–7.5 kg (8.8–16.5 lb). Around 50% of the calves die within the first six months of birth, and only 25% can survive after three years. In a study at

perineal region, and may consume its excreta.[4][13]

Habitat and distribution

The lesser kudu inhabits dry bushland regions.[14] It is closely associated with Acacia and Commiphora thornbush in semiarid areas of northeastern Africa. The animal avoids open areas and long grass, preferring shaded areas with short grasses instead.[1] Found in woodlands and hilly areas, as well, the lesser kudu is generally found at altitudes below 1,200 m (3,900 ft);[13] though they have been recorded at heights about 1,740 m (5,710 ft) near Mount Kilimanjaro.[1] While individual home ranges of these animals are 0.4–6.7 km2 (4,300,000–72,000,000 sq ft) in size, those of males have an average size of 2.2 km2 (24,000,000 sq ft) and those of females 1.8 km2 (19,000,000 sq ft).[20]

The lesser kudu is native to

Ha'il province, Saudi Arabia.[4][21]

Threats and conservation

The lesser kudu's shyness and its ability to camouflage itself in dense cover has protected it from the risks of poaching. For instance, the lesser kudu is widespread in the Ogaden region, which is rich in dense bush, despite reckless hunting by local people.[1] However, rinderpest outbreaks, to which the lesser kudu is highly susceptible, have resulted in a steep decline of 60% in the animal's population in Tsavo National Park in Kenya.[22] Overgrazing, human settlement, and loss of habitat are some other threats to the survival of the lesser kudu.[1]

The total population of the lesser kudu has been estimated to be nearly 118,000, with a decreasing trend in populations. The rate of decline has increased to 20% over two decades. Presently, the

near threatened".[1] Around a third of the population of the lesser kudu occurs in protected areas such as Awash, Omo and Mago National Parks (Ethiopia); Lag Badana National Park (Somalia); Tsavo National Park (Kenya); Ruaha National Park and game reserves (Tanzania), though it occurs in larger numbers outside these areas.[23] Population density rarely exceeds 1/km2., and is generally much lower.[20]

The handsome head of the male lesser kudu, with his elegant spiraled horns, is the symbol of the Saint Louis Zoo.

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22053A50196563.en
    . Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b Heller, E. (November 2, 1912). New Genera and Races of African Ungulates (PDF). Washington D. C.: Smithsonian Institution. p. 15.
  3. ^
    OCLC 62265494
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1408189962
    .
  5. ^ "Tragelaphus". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Kudu". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. ISBN 978-1-4214-0093-8
    .
  8. PMID 15878131
    .
  9. ISSN 1612-4138. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  10. ^ Ropiquet, A. (2006). "Etude des radiations adaptatives au sein des Antilopinae (Mammalia, Bovidae)". Ph.D. Thesis, Université Paris. 6 (1–247).
  11. PMID 22226162
    .
  12. PMID 7389415
    .
  13. ^
    ISBN 0520080858
    .
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Paschka, N. "Tragelaphus imberbis (lesser kudu)". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  15. ISBN 1868725588
    .
  16. ^ a b "Lesser kudu". Wildscreen. ARKive. Archived from the original on 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  17. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1977.tb00398.x
    .
  18. ^
    doi:10.1002/zoo.1430110205
    .
  19. S2CID 22836125
    .
  20. ^
    ISBN 0801857899
    .
  21. ^ Guagnin M, Shipton C, el-Dossary S, et al. Rock art provides new evidence on the biogeography of kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis), wild dromedary, aurochs (Bos primigenius) and African wild ass (Equus africanus) in the early and middle Holocene of north-western Arabia. J Biogeogr. 2018;00:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13165
  22. ISBN 0470292105
    .
  23. ISBN 2831704774
    .

External links
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