Tragelaphus imberbis
lesser kudu

The range of Tragelaphus imberbis, the Lesser Kudu, is restricted to northeast Africa. It was once believed to inhabit Saudi Arabia, however, only two sets of horns have been found that substantiate this claim. BR

(Harrison and Bates 1991; Nowak 1999; Roosevelt and Heller 1914; Walther 1990)

The Lesser Kudu inhabits dry, flat, and densely thicketed areas, as well as woodlands and hilly land. It is rarely observed in open or cleared areas.<BR>

(Nowak 1999; Roosevelt and Heller 1914; Walther 1990)

The Lesser Kudu is the largest bovid in Arabia, with the exception of the Oryx (Harrison and Bates 1991). It is 1.10-1.75 meters from the tip of the snout to the base of the tail and stands at a height of 0.90-1.05 meters. The tail ranges from 0.26 to 0.30 meters with up to 0.90 meters of additional hair length. Males have horns that range from 0.48 to 0.91 meters, have two longitudinal keels, twist 2.5 times, and a basal circumference of 156-171 mm. At the base, they span 6-12 mm; at their ends, they span 0.25-0.35 meters. Males have various shades of grey fur, and females are distinctly more reddish brown. One long white stripe runs the length of the back with 11-14 stripes branching downward off of it. The face has a black stripe from each eye to the nose and a white stripe from each eye to the center of the face. The lip area is white and four white spots are found on the lower jaw (two per side). The legs are fawn colored with a white patch above the hoof. The tail is brown above and white underneath, and a black tip. There are white patches on the throat and chest with a black stripe that spans the chest area. The abdomen is pure white. Young Kudus are similar in color to females but redder, and males become more grey by the age of two years.

The lesser kudu is hard to observe in dry bush due to its camouflage, and because its large ears aid in a well developed sense of hearing that warns it of potential predators.

The skull of the Lesser Kudu is long with a short cranium. The nasal bones are long and narrowed in the center. They form a 'V' shaped suture where they meet the frontals. The supraorbital foramina are located within indentations and are elongated horizontally. The paraoccipital proccess are flat and wide, and the teeth are hypsodont.<BR>

(Harrison and Bates 1991; Nowak 1999; Roosevelt and Heller 1914; Walther 1990)

The Lesser Kudu is primarily nocturnal and seeks shelter in heavy or dense thickets within a few hours after sunrise. They seem to roam independant of water sources, but are not normally found in waterless deserts. Females form groups of 2 or 3 while males tend to remain solitary or occasionally form small groups. The average population density is rarely more that 1 Kudu per square kilometer, and home ranges generally extend from 0.4 sq. km to 6.7 sq. km. There exists, however, no territorial behavior. No hierarchical groups are formed and fighting is rare. When startled, the Lesser Kudu emits a bark, similar to that given by the Bushbuck. Locomotion is usually bounding leaps with recorded heights exceeding 2 meters and traversing over 9.2 meters.<BR>

(Nowak 1999; Roosevelt and Heller 1914; Walther 1990)

The Lesser Kudu feeds primarily at dusk or at dawn (Roosevelt and Heller 1914) and eats a diverse variety of bush and tree leaves, shoots and twigs, as well as, grasses, herbs, and fruits. It has been reported to be fairly independent of water sources and browses in relatively arid environments.<BR> (Nowak 1999; Roosevelt and Heller 1914; Walther 1990)

N/A

The Lesser Kudu is a hunted game animal, that is used for sport, food, and as a source of money.

The Lesser Kudu is listed in IUCN as conservation dependent (Nowak 1999). Populations have continued to decline due to hunting or habitat loss caused by human activities or in the case of Tsavo National Park, elephant populations that alter the vegetative landscape.<BR>

(Nowak 1999; Walther 1990)