Gerenuk

Gerenuk ( Litocranius walleri )

The gerenuk ( Litocranius walleri ), also called gerenuk, is an antelope from the group of gazelle -like. The term gerenuk is garanug not an exact transfer of the Somali name.

Pictures of giraffes gazelles can be found already in ancient Egypt from around 5600 BC, but the species was scientifically described until 1878. To date, very little is known about the habits of these gazelle. In the African landscape, the gerenuk especially noticeable because it often arises during the Äsens on its hind legs to reach leaves.

Features

The gerenuk is distinctive due to its long, slender neck and long runs. Gerenuks reach a shoulder height of up to 1.04 meters. It weighs up to 32 kg, the horns that carries only the males are up to 43 centimeters long.

The coat is reddish chocolate brown on the back, the sides of the body, however, are much brighter and sharply dropped over the back seat. This two-color coat on the body top is unique among gazelles. A dark line bordering the white ventral side significantly. The ears are very large, a white eye ring tapers toward the mouth. The male has short, strongly curled and provided with a relatively thick shaft horns. They form a lively rear-facing arc, then rotate forward and end in a narrow hook. The male also has striking Voraugendrüsen that secrete a dark substance. Other scent glands are found on the legs at the knee.

Dissemination

The range extends from Ethiopia and Somalia on Kenya in the north of Tanzania. In historical times, the gerenuk was also common in Sudan and Egypt, there is but extinct for a long time. Habitat is arid areas, mostly thorn bush savannah.

Way of life

The giraffe gazelle is one of the species that is adapted to a particular way of life in the dry savanna. Similar to the sable antelope and the Addax antelope giraffes do not even drink when a water hole is near. The fluid needs are covered solely by the food.

The gerenuk feeds exclusively on leaves, and similar to the ( unrelated ) giraffes she has developed the extension of the neck and legs. Convergent to the giraffe is also the rough tongue and the extended, insensitive lips with those thorny branches can be enclosed self-developed. With closed mouth the gerenuk then pulls her head back, and feed off the leaves. In order to reach high branches, these antelope stands on its hind legs and is supported with the front legs from the tree.

The dietary behavior of the giraffe gazelle has been studied among others in the Tsavo East National Park, doing a food competition especially with the lesser kudu was found. However, the Small Kudu holds on, especially in the savannah regions which are denser contains trees and shrubs. Because of the ability to stand on its hind legs while searching for food, leaves for the giraffe gazelle also available, which are inaccessible to the lesser kudu. In Tsavo East National Park comprised the diet of the giraffe gazelle leaves, shoots, flowers, and some fruits. Some climbing plants were eaten by this gazelle. The gerenuk is not a food specialist, but uses at least 84 plant species as a food source. A special preference is for spine reinforced plants such as blackthorn acacia.

The females live with their young in small groups of two to five animals. Adult males are territorial loners who try to mate time to keep females in their territories and mate with them.

Others

Gerenuks are probably never been particularly common. Because of their solitary nature, they fall under the large herds of ungulates on the savannah hardly. By hunting the species is, however, become even more rare in recent decades. Most Gerenuks there is today in Ethiopia. The total population is estimated at 70,000 animals.