» "Kudu's an alternate spelling for kuzu, the Japanese word for the plant kudzu" The "kudus" are two species of antelope: Lesser Kudu, "Tragelaphus imberbis" Greater Kudu, "Tragelaphus strepsiceros" Etymology The name of the animal was imported into English in the 18th century from isiXhosa iqudu, via Afrikaans koedoe. Habitat Lesser Kudus come from the savannas near acacia and commiphora shrubs. They've to rely on thickets for protection, so they're hardly ever seen in the open. Behavio… (More on Kudu)