Strepsiceros cottoni (Dollman & Burlace, 1928)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-779 : 616

38.

Western Kudu

Strepsiceros cottoni

French: Koudou du Tchad / German: Westlicher Grof 3kudu / Spanish: Gran kudu occidental

Other common names: Greater Kudu

Taxonomy. Strepsiceros strepsiceros cottoni Dollman & Burlace, 1928 ,

Byaya, French Congo.

Recent evaluations of museum specimens by C. P. Groves and P. Grubb show that four forms of greater kudu are diagnostically different. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE Chad, W Sudan, and isolated populations in extreme N Central African Republic.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 193-219 cm, tail 46-48 cm, shoulder height 121-123 cm (these measurements refer to males only). No specific weights are available, but the Western Kudu is the smallest species of the genus Strepsiceros . In general, weight of males is about 150% of that offemales. Greater kudus are the tallest of the African antelopes, after elands ( Taurotragus spp.), with the longest and most widely spiraled horns on males. Male Western Kudus are pale brown with 4-8 vertical stripes on the sides of the body. The dorsal stripe is white or pale brown, lengthened and blacker posteriorly. The facial chevron is poorly expressed. The backs of the large cupped ears are dark gray. There is very little black around the hooves and the legs are always whitish above the dark zone. The pale mane is very short on the nape but long on the throat. Male Western Kudus have the shortest horn length of the four greater kudu species. Average straight-line horn length is 78-5 cm, and average tip-to-tip length is 61-5 cm; exceptional horn lengths along the outside curve may reach 135 cm. Young males can be aged by the shape of their horns: they have a full spiral by two years of age and 2-5 spirals by 4-4-5 years of age. Female Western Kudus are similar to Northern Kudu (S. chora ) females; they are pale brown, with three lateral body stripes on the haunches and three others well spaced farther forward. The backs of the ears are dark, and all four hooves are surrounded by a dark ring. Females have a full facial chevron, but no nuchal mane; they do have very slightly lengthened hair on the nape and throat. Females lack horns. Dental formula is 1 0/3, CO0/1,P3/3,M3/3(x2)=32.

Habitat. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely similar to other greater kudu species, with a preference for shrub woodlands with protective COVeT.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely primarily a browser and comparable to other greater kudu species. Although greater kudus are not normally dependent on standing water, obtaining the water they need in the vegetation they eat, they will drink as they can during very dry periods.

Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely comparable to other greater kudu species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely comparable to other greater kudu species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but likely sedentary and occupying relatively small home ranges comparable to other greater kudu species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under Tragelaphus strepsiceros ); it does not differentiate the four species of greater kudu identified here. In the late 1990s, the number of greater kudus range-wide was estimated at about 482,000, with 15% in protected areas and 61% on private land. All greater kudu species are threatened by human encroachment and associated habitat modifications (dryland and subsistence farming), excessive cattle grazing, disease transmission from cattle (rinderpest has been particularly hard on greater kudus), and poaching. As a group, the greater kudus have always been considered less abundant in the northern part of their range, and the specific status of populations of the Western Kudu is largely unknown. Political strife in the region adds to the concern. It was considered Vulnerable in Chad as late as 1997 with fewer than 200 individuals, and it may now be extinct in large parts of its former range.

Bibliography. Bro-Jorgensen (2008), Dollman & Burlace (1928), East (1999), Estes (1991a, 1991b), Groves & Grubb (2011), Huffman (2004r), IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008bj), Keith & Powers (1997), Kingdon (1982), Lydekker & Blaine (1914), Nersting & Arctander (2001).

Figures

On following pages: 35. Cape Kudu (Strepsiceros strepsiceros); 36. Zambezi Kudu (Strepsiceros zambesiensis); 37. Northern Kudu (Strepsiceros chora); 38. Western Kudu (Strepsiceros cotton); 39. Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx); 40. Giant Eland (Taurotragus derbianus).

Distribution. SE Chad , W Sudan , and isolated populations in extreme N Central African Republic .