Puku

Puku stand about at the shoulder and weigh from . The puku is sandy brown in colour, with the underbelly a slightly lighter brown. The coat is rougher than that of the similar-sized southern reedbuck, lechwe or impala, or the smaller oribi. Males have horns which are ridge-structured, long, and lyre-shaped. ==Subspecies==

There are two subspecies, the Senga Puku (Kobus vardonii senganus) and the southern puku (Kobus vardonii vardonii). ==Ecology==

Puku are found almost exclusively in marshy grassland and dambos, where they eat grasses. The puku diet is flexible in regards to type of grasses consumed. There is little dietary competition with other bovids. This species is crepuscular, active in the early morning and late afternoon. When scared, puku repeat a shrill whistle sound. Females gather in herds of up to 20 individuals. During the rainy season, herds will come together for added safety, typically reaching around 50 females. Males hold territories and attempt to persuade herds of females to stay within their territories for as long as possible. In the wet season, due to large floods in their habitat they migrate to a higher elevation and in the dry season remain near water. == Gallery ==

File:Puku male and female (Zambia).jpg|Male and female Kobus vardonii, Kafue National Park, Zambia File:Puku female, South Luangwa.jpg|Female K. v. senganus and fawn, in South Luangwa NP, Zambia File:Puku Fawn Suckling Kafue Jul23 A7R 05264.jpg|Kobus vardonii female suckling fawn, Kafue National Park, Zambia File:Southern puku (Kobus vardonii vardonii) female.jpg|Female K. v. vardonii, in Chobe National Park, Botswana File:Southern puku (Kobus vardonii vardonii) female head.jpg|Female K. v. vardonii, in Chobe National Park, Botswana File:Southern puku (Kobus vardonii vardonii) fawn.jpg|K. v. vardonii fawn, in Chobe National Park, Botswana ==References==