# Greater Kudu (*Tragelaphus strepsiceros*) The Greater Kudu is a majestic antelope with long, spiral horns. They are known for their impressive leaps and graceful movements in the African savannas. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Savannas - **Also known as:** Kudu ![Greater Kudu](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426723/objects/6134.jpg) ## Appearance The Greater Kudu is a large antelope, typically tawny-brown to bluish-grey, with 6-10 distinctive vertical white stripes on its body. It has large, rounded ears and a prominent white chevron marking between its eyes. Males possess massive, spiraling horns that can have two-and-a-half twists. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Tragelaphus ## Interesting facts - Female kudus usually live in small herds with their young, while males prefer to be solitary. - Male kudus must tilt their heads back to walk through dense bush with their huge horns! - Their impressive spiral horns can reach over a meter in length from base to tip! - They communicate with loud, barking calls, especially when sensing danger. ## Special abilities - **Spiral Horn Defense:** Greater Kudu has incredible spiraling horns that help them fight off predators and compete with other males for mates. - **Stripe Camouflage:** Greater Kudu has distinct white stripes that help them blend perfectly into the dappled light of dense bush. - **Leaping Escape:** Greater Kudu can jump incredibly high over obstacles, helping them flee quickly from chasing predators. - **Sensitive Hearing:** Greater Kudu has large, mobile ears that help them pinpoint the slightest sounds of danger from far away. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 190-240 cm - **Weight:** 120-315 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-15 years - **Speed:** 90 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 240 days ## Diet & Feeding These majestic antelopes munch on leaves, shoots, and fruits from various plants and trees. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Shoots, Fruits, Flowers, Acacia pods, Forbs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — A primary predator of adult kudus in savanna ecosystems. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Known to hunt kudu, especially younger or weaker individuals. - **Eaten by:** [African Wild Dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-wild-dog) (*Lycaon pictus*) — Packs often target kudu, using teamwork to bring them down. - **Eats:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Vachellia tortilis*) — They browse on the leaves and pods of this common tree. - **Eats:** Red Bushwillow (*Combretum apiculatum*) — Feeds on the leaves and young shoots of this bushwillow species. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Admire the Greater Kudu from a safe distance to avoid startling them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Greater Kudu? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Greater Kudu? 190-240 cm ### How much does Greater Kudu weigh? 120-315 kg ### How long does Greater Kudu live? 7-15 years ### How fast can Greater Kudu move? 90 km/h ### What does Greater Kudu eat? These majestic antelopes munch on leaves, shoots, and fruits from various plants and trees. ### Where is Greater Kudu usually found? Savannas ### How does Greater Kudu hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Greater Kudu: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-kudu)