Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) from ‘tragos’ (Greek) a male goat; ‘elaphos’ (Greek) a deer (together meaning an antelope); 'strepsiceros' from strepho (Greek) twist; keras (Greek) horn. A large spiral-horned antelope with a reddish brown coat (greyer in adult males) and 6-10 white stripes on the flanks, white chevron markings between the eyes, white cheek spots and a mane of hair running from the neck down the entire back. Males have two very large spiral horns, averaging 1.2 m long and a beard under the chin. Life span: up to 15 years. Size: 1.9-2.5 m long and standing 1-1.5 m tall at the shoulder. Distribution: Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. Habitat: Woodland, especially in hilly areas. Diet: Leaves, fruit and some grass. Many predators, such as big cats, wild dogs, hyenas, eagles and pythons hunt kudu and their young. Kudu numbers are also affected by humans hunting them for their meat, hides and horns, or using their habitats for charcoal burning and farming. Their coloring and markings protect kudus by camouflaging them. If alarmed they usually stand still and are very difficult to spot.
Kudus restrict their movements to a small home range, but scarcity of food in dry season prompts them to roam more widely.
Ernest Hemingway's book 'Green Hills of Africa' (1935) prominently features the hunt/search for a trophy kudu.
References: African Wildlife Foundation, http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/634.shtml http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Tragelaphus_strepsiceros.html