Gerenuk

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Gerenuk
Conservation status
Conservation dependent (LR/cd)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Litocranius Species: L. walleri
Binomial name
Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1878)

Female gerenuk

The Gerenuk, or Giraffe Gazelle, (Litocranius walleri) is an antelope, also called the giraffe gazelle, found in East Africa. The origin of the name is believed to be from a Somali name for the mammal. The animal can weigh up to 52 kilograms and stand over 1 meter in shoulder height. During mating season, the male's neck can swell significantly. It is capable of standing upright on its hind legs. When upright, it can reach a height of 7 feet. Only the males have short, thick, lyre-shaped horns up to 17 inches long. The coat is fox red on the back, lighter on the flanks and white on the underparts.

Gerenuks are shy and ready to run away with their heads held horizontally forward, so they can pass under low branches with ease. The animal usually lives in small herds of 3-10 others.

Unlike other antelopes, gerenuks do not eat low-lying vegetation, but rather stand on their hind legs and use their long necks to reach the leaves in trees. They get most of their moisture from the plants they eat.

[edit] External links

• Gerenuk: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation

[edit] References

• Antelope Specialist Group (1996). Litocranius walleri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
• Sanderson, Ivan T. (1970). Knaurs Tierreich in Farben: Säugetiere. Deutscher Bücherbund.
• (1981) National Geographic Book of Mammals. National Geographic Society.
• ((cite book | author=Dr. Burton, Maurice, and Burton Robert| title=Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia 7 | publisher=B.P.C. Publishing Ltd. | year=1969-1970 | id= ))
• Homepage of the IUCN/SSC/Antelope specialist regional subgroup for Northeast Africa