as kudus marks two antelope-types of the type Tragelaphus, the big kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and the small kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) one.
Big kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)) The withers-height of the big animals amounts until 160 cm, the weight for 300 kg. This antelope is slim and high-legged with notably big ears. A mane extends up to the tail-root from the rear-head. A conspicuous Behang is at the neck-underside. The reason-color is dun. At the flanks, 6-10 white strips of the back-middle run downward. A white strip forms an eel-line on the back.
The bucks have a spiral-shaped Gehörn with 2-3 wide meanders. The bushy tail is dark on the upper side, on the underside knows. Between the eyes, a white bond proceeds, the cheeks have stains 3 white ones.
Habitat Big kudus prefer thornbush-savannas with stony and rocky underground in level and highland. Since they are dependent on water-places, they hike in dry-periods far around and often follow the gallery-forests, that line the temporary water-runs, on that occasion. Recently, big kudus visit in the farm-country as Kulturfolger southwest-Africa's livestock-troughs. they jump high fences on that occasion until 2 m.
Way of life Big kudus live in associations of up to 6 animals, who can unite, however, to stoves of over 30 kudus. Adult males are loners or herd with younger males to bachelor-stoves.
Big kudus are very shy. With its big ears, they perceive suspicious sounds from considerable distance. At the escape, they discharge barking fright-lutes. Kudus scared bends the tail highly, that the white underside lights up as consequence-signal.
Lions are the main-enemies of the big kudus. Three-fourths that of carnivores killed falls this big-cat to the victim. Hyena-dogs and leopards only hunt down one of these big antelopes occasionally.
During the day, the animals rest in a shady hiding place, while it in the twilight and at night after food, waters seek and pick up.
Reproduction At the rival-fights, the bucks impress breitseits against each other by lowering the heads, and high-curve the back. They appear especially impressively on that occasion through the Halsbehang and the back-mane. In the actual qualifying contest, the opponents stand side by side and get over its turned horns so together that the stronger finally asserts itself through pushing and tug.
In the combination-prelude, the male impresses opposite the female with high-stretched head. The female bumps forehead and muzzle on the flanks of the buck, who this can like one without resistance, at first. If the female then from it-moves, the male follows it and tries to touch with its outstretched head and Hal's backs and neck of the female from above ago. If it then stops, the male rides on. During the combination-prelude, the buck leaves whimpering or hears lutes röhrende.
The Tragzeit lasts 210-240 days. Usually, only one single young is placed. It is a typical Ablieger and for is looked therefore by the mother only from time to time to suckling.
Later, young join together to associations, ("kindergarten") however they still then keep the connection to its mother. With endurance, the calves drive fight and prosecution-games.
Continuance The big kudu still is quite frequent above all in the south of its spread-area.
Little one kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)) The withers-height of this antelope amounts to approximately 110 cm, its weight for 105 kg. The little one kudu resembles the big kudu, however it is considerably smaller. Instead of the Halsbehanges, the little one kudu has two white ones stains at the neck-underside. The white strip-drawing at the torso-sides is more prominent than with the big type. On a side, 11-15 vertical strips perform. They reach, 2 - until 3-once winding Hörne has a more inferior display as with the big kudu. The females are horn-free.
Habitat Dense, dry thornbush at hillsides and in the level is the residence of this antelope. Also the edge-hedges of dry riverbeds are visited by small kudus. Aloe and Tamarisken character-plants of such biotopes are beside acacia-bushes.
Way of life Little one kudus form herds from an adult buck and several females with its boys. As well, one can find loners or pure buck-herds. The type roves in the twilight and at night through its precinct. During the day, little one kudus rest in the protection of a thicket.
Little one kudus are very shy. Hunters therefore have effort to carry it off in its unclear residential-area. With danger, the animals retreat inconspicuously. From sure coverage and distance, they observe the danger-source. They bark startled like like its relatives.
The jump-fortune of these antelopes is astonishing. Jumps of 2 m of height and virtually 10 m wide one was observed.
Cheetahs, leopards and hyena-dogs are its enemies.
Reproduction The combination-behavior of the small kudus reminds of this of its next relative. At rival-fights, the bucks push forehead against forehead and try to press the opponent the Gehörn against the neck to the back.
The Tragzeit lasts 210-230 days. The young is an Ablieger. It weighs approximately 7 kg in the birth. The dam licks its young at the anal-region and induces it through it to the urine and excrement-depositing. The departures are eaten by the mother. Olfactory-materials, that carnivores could lure, are taken away through it.
Continuance The little one kudu is frequent nowhere, but doesn't endanger either.
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