#litocranius

[thegreatprinceoftheforest]

Southern Gerenuk | Greg Taylor Photography

[animalids]

Southern gerenuk (Litocranius walleri walleri)

Photo by Cláudio Dias Timm

[quickwitter]

GERENUK Male Preening Tail Litocranius walleri ©Laura Quick Gerenuk are also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked antelope found in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of East Africa.Primarily a browser, the gerenuk feed on foliage of bushes as well as trees, shoots, herbs, flowers and fruits. It can reach higher branches and twigs better than other gazelles and antelopes by standing erect on its hind legs and elongating its neck; this helps it reach over 6-½ feet (2 meters) above the ground. Acacia species preferred, while evergreen vegetation forms the diet during droughts. The pointed mouth assists in extracting leaves from thorny vegetation. The gerenuk does not drink water regularly. #gerenuk#litocranius walleri#©laura quick#east africa#herbivore#hoofstock#african#giraffe gazelle#foliverous#los angeles zoo and botanical gardens#loangeleszoo #lazoo #glaza #juvenile https://www.instagram.com/p/B6E8ucsnIKa/?igshid=27153l10zgqu

[animalids]

Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)

Photo by Rolf Dietrich Brecher

[mammalianmammals]

Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), male, standing to feed on tasty leaves, family Bovidae, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Photograph by @mogenstrolle

[mammalianmammals]

Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), male, family Bovidae, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Photograph by Alessandro Tramonti

[ungulateartref]

Gerenuk (males have horns)

"Lightmatter gerenuk" by By Aaron Logan - from http://www.lightmatter.net/gallery/albums.php. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lightmatter_gerenuk.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Lightmatter_gerenuk.jpg

[libutron]

Mother and baby Gerenuk

The Gerenuk, Litocranius walleri (Bovidae), is a small, delicate antelope which lives in the remote desert areas of Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. The elongated neck allows it to browse higher up than other antelopes its size. Gerenuks can often be seen feeding erect – standing on their hind legs.

Incredibly, the gerenuk is believed to be independent of free water. This is a great advantage in its semi-arid habitat, as the gerenuk therefore does not have to undertake long journeys in search of water. Instead, the sedentary gerenuk is thought to obtain all the moisture it requires through its diet.

This species is considered as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

References: [1] - [2]

Photo credit: ©Michael Sheridan

Locality: Samburu National Park, Kenya