Home › Mammalia › Bovidae › Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)
SPECIES PROFILE
Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)
Litocranius
IUCN STATUS
Near Threatened
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Horn of Africa drylands
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
Arid thornbush and semi-desert
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Bovidae
GENUS
Litocranius
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 1.05 m at shoulder; 28-52 kg
COLORATION
Reddish-brown with a very long neck and legs
ADAPTATIONS
Stands on hind legs to reach leaves other browsers cannot
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Arid thornbush and semi-desert
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Horn of Africa drylands
REPRODUCTION
Single fawn
DIET DETAILS
Leaves and shoots of thorny bushes
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The 'giraffe gazelle', it stands upright on its hind legs to feed high in thorn bushes.
2
It can survive without ever drinking, getting all its water from leaves.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Samburu National Reserve
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Scan dry bush in Samburu; look for a gazelle standing on its hind legs to browse tall branches.
