# Lesser Kudu (*Tragelaphus imberbis*) The Lesser Kudu is a shy antelope with beautiful spiral horns. They are excellent jumpers and can leap high to escape from predators. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lesser Kudu](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424516/objects/6205.jpg) ## Appearance The Lesser Kudu is a slender, reddish-brown antelope with 11-14 narrow white vertical stripes along its body. Males have stunning spiraling horns, while females have none, and both have large, rounded ears with a distinctive white chevron between their eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Tragelaphus ## Interesting facts - Their dazzling spiral horns can grow over two feet long, making them quite majestic! - Their super long, rounded ears can swivel to pinpoint tiny sounds! - These shy antelopes can freeze perfectly still to hide from danger! - They get almost all the water they need just by eating leaves! ## Special abilities - **Striped Camouflage:** Lesser Kudu has a coat with white stripes that helps them blend perfectly into dense bushes and dappled sunlight. - **Agile Escapist:** Lesser Kudu can leap and twist quickly because of their muscular legs, helping them escape predators in thick vegetation. - **Keen Hearing:** Lesser Kudu has large, swiveling ears that helps them detect even the quietest rustles of approaching danger. - **Water Harvester:** Lesser Kudu can survive without drinking water because they get enough moisture from the plants they eat. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 110-140 cm - **Weight:** 50-108 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 210-225 days ## Diet & Feeding They are plant-eaters that enjoy leaves, shoots, and fruits from bushes and trees. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, shoots, forbs, fruits, flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Lions hunt adult and young Lesser Kudu. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are primary predators of Lesser Kudu. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hyenas often target young or weakened Lesser Kudu. - **Depends on:** Umbrella thorn acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Kudu browse on leaves and shoots of acacia trees. ## 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. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Admire these animals from a safe distance and never try to approach them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lesser 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 Lesser Kudu? 110-140 cm ### How much does Lesser Kudu weigh? 50-108 kg ### How long does Lesser Kudu live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Lesser Kudu move? 70 km/h ### What does Lesser Kudu eat? They are plant-eaters that enjoy leaves, shoots, and fruits from bushes and trees. ### Where is Lesser Kudu usually found? Forests ### How does Lesser 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: [Lesser Kudu: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-kudu)