Kudu Kudu The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus "Tragelaphus": The name of the animal was imported into English in the 18th century from isiXhosa "iqhude", via Afrikaans "koedoe" part zebra part deer. Kudu, or koodoo, is the Khoikhoi name for this antelope. "Tragos" (Greek) denotes a he-goat and "elaphos" (Greek) a deer. "Strepho" (Greek) means "twist", and "strephis" is "twisting". "Keras" (Greek) refers to the horn of the animal. Lesser kudus come from the savanna near "Acacia" and "Commiphora" shrubs. They have to rely on thickets for protection, so they are rarely seen in the open. Their
Greater kudu of the northwestern population, which may represent a third subspecies ("T. s. cottoni") was tested within this study. In Groves and Grubb's book "Ungulate Taxonomy", a recent taxonomic revision was made that evaluated all species and subspecies of kudu and other ungulates. This review split the genus "Tragelaphus" into 4 separate genera, "Tragelaphus" (bushbuck, sitatunga, bongo, nyala, and gedemsa or mountain nyala), "Ammelaphus" (lesser kudu), "Strepsiceros" (greater kudu) and their close relatives "Taurotragus" (elands). The greater kudu was split into four species based on genetic evidence and morphological features (horn structure and coat color). Each species was based on a