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Greater Kudu
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
The next two weeks will be devoted to African Antilopes.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Tragelaphus
Species: Tragelaphus strepsiceros
The Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting.
Greater Kudus have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish-grey to reddish-brown. They possess between 4–12 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.
Male Greater Kudus tend to be much larger than the females, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping.[citation needed] The males also have large manes running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists, which, were they to be straightened, would reach a length of 1 metre on average. However, the male horns do not begin to grow until the male is between the age of 6–12 months, twisting once at around 2 years of age, and not reaching the full two and a half twist until they are 6 years old.
Males weigh 190–270 kg (419-595 lbs) while females weigh 120–210 kg (265-463 lbs). Females do not have horns while the bulls have horns that average 120 cm (42 in) in length with the record being 187.64 cm (73.87 in). |
Jakkals, BREARD has marked this note useful
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Hello Lior,
What a great shot. Clear details of the Kudus complimented with earthly colours. Excellent background scene. This photo reminds me a lot about the Etosha National Park in Namibia.
Regards,
Carl
- BREARD
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 1 N: 419]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2141) - [2011-10-11 10:17]
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Bonjour Lior,
Une magnifique image de Kudu dans une belle lulmière.
Très bien fait.
Amitiés
Serge
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 90]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}