Editing Lesser kudu (section)

==Physical description==
[[File:Male Lesser Kudu.jpg|thumbnail|left|Male lesser kudu]]
The lesser kudu is a spiral-horned antelope. The head-and-body length is typically between {{cvt|110|and|140|cm|in}}. Males reach about {{cvt|95|-|105|cm|in}} at the shoulder, while females reach {{cvt|90|-|100|cm|in}}. Males typically weigh {{cvt|92|-|108|kg|lb}} and females {{cvt|56|-|70|kg|lb}}.<ref name=estes>{{cite book|last=Estes|first=R. D.|title=The Behavior Guide to African Mammals : Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates|date=2004|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=0520080858|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_0520080858/page/180 180–2]|edition=4th|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_0520080858/page/180}}</ref> The bushy tail is {{cvt|25|-|40|cm|in}} long, white underneath and with a black tip at the end.<ref name=adw>{{cite web|last=Paschka|first=N.|title=''Tragelaphus imberbis'' (lesser kudu)|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Tragelaphus_imberbis/|work=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology|publisher=Animal Diversity Web|access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>

Distinct signs of [[sexual dimorphism]] are seen in the antelope. The male is considerably larger than the female. The females, as well as juveniles, have a [[rufous]] coat, whereas the males become yellowish grey or darker after the age of 2 years. The male has a prominent black crest of hair on the neck, but this feature is not well-developed in the female.<ref name=kingdon>{{cite book|last=Kingdon|first=J.|title=Mammals of Africa|date=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|location=London|isbn=978-1408189962|pages=142–7|author2=Butynski, T. |author3=Happold, D. }}</ref> One long white stripe runs along the back, with 11–14 white stripes branching towards the sides.<ref name=adw/> The chest has a central black stripe, and  no throat beard is present.<ref name=estes/> A black stripe runs from each eye to the nose and a white one from each eye to the centre of the dark face. A [[Chevron (anatomy)|chevron]] is present between the eyes. The area around the lips is white, the throat has white patches, and two white spots appear on each side of the lower jaw. The underparts are completely white, while the slender legs are tawny and have black and white patches.<ref name=adw/> The lesser kudu is characterised by large, rounded ears. Its tracks are similar to the greater kudu's.<ref name=track>{{cite book|last=Chris|first=S.|title=A Field Guide to the Tracks and Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife|date=2000|publisher=Struik|location=Cape Town|isbn=1868725588|edition=3rd|author2=Stuart, T.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WcDPj5hgT30C}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Females have four teats.<ref name=kingdon/> The average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, and 15 years in captivity.<ref name=adw/>

Horns are present only on males. The spiral horns are {{cvt|50|-|70|cm|in}} long, and have two to two-and-a-half twists.<ref name=estes/> The base circumference is {{cvt|156|-|171|cm|in}}.<ref name=adw/> The slender horns are dark brown and tipped with white.<ref name=kingdon/> Male young begin developing horns after 6-8 months, which reach full length after 3 years.<ref name=adw/>