Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Silhouette: Robert Hering · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
- GenusTragelaphus (Spiral-horned Antelopes)
- SpeciesTragelaphus strepsiceros (Greater Kudu)
About the Greater Kudu
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. The greater kudu is one of two species commonly known as kudu, the other being the lesser kudu, T. imberbis.
Kudu ( koo-DOO), or koodoo, is the Khoikhoi name for this antelope. Trag- (Greek) denotes a goat and elaphos (Greek) a deer. Strepho (Greek) means 'twist', and strepsis is 'twisting'. Keras (Greek) refers to the horn of the animal.
Greater kudus have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish grey to reddish brown. They possess between 4 and 12 vertical white stripes along their torso. The head tends to be darker in colour than the rest of the body, and exhibits a small white chevron which runs between the eyes.
Greater kudu bulls tend to be much larger than the cows, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping. The bulls also have beards running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists,... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Greater Kudu in Hwange National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Hwange National Park
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Steenbok
Raphicerus campestris
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
Roan Antelope
Hippotragus equinus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Southern Reedbuck
Redunca arundinum
Bush Duiker
Sylvicapra grimmia
Tsessebe
Damaliscus lunatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Greater Kudu in Hwange National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Greater Kudu sighting in Hwange National Park, based on 54 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Greater Kudu in Hwange National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Greater Kudu in Hwange National Park in our monthly data.