| Gerenuk | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| General information | |||
| Universe | Real Life | ||
| Aliases | Giraffe Gazelle Garanuug (Somali) Sclater's Gazelle or Waller's Gazelle (depending on subspecies) | ||
| Classification | Litocranius walleri | ||
| Species type | Antelope | ||
| Homeworld | Earth | ||
| Environment | Dry savanna | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based lifeform | ||
| Discovered | 1878 | ||
| Discoverer | Victor Brooke | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Lifespan | Wild: ~8 years Captive: 13+ years | ||
| Reproduction | Sexual; gives live birth | ||
| Average height | Males: 35-41" (89-105 centimeters) Females: 31-39" (80-100 centimeters) | ||
| Average weight | Males: 68-115 lbs (31-52 kg) Females: 62-99 lbs (28-45 kg) | ||
| Average length | Bipedal stance: Over 6.6' (2m) | ||
| Locomotion | Quadrupedal | ||
| Feeding behavior | Herbivorous | ||
| Prey | Acacia when available, evergreens during droughts; opportunistically take foliage from trees and bushes, herbs, flowers, fruits, and shoots | ||
| Predators | Cape Hunting Dogs, Cheetahs, Hyenas, Lions and Leopards | ||
| Distinctive features | Giraffe-like neck, lyre-like horns on males | ||
| Eye color | Black | ||
| Skin color | Pale | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Related species | Dibatag, Springbok | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Alignment | True Neutral | ||
| Organization | Herds | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Earth | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria | ||
| Superphylum | Deuterostomia (Blastophore becomes anus) | ||
| Phylum | Chordata | ||
| Subphylum | Vertebrata | ||
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata (Jawed vertebrates) | ||
| Superclass | Tetrapoda | ||
| Class | Mammalia (Mammals) | ||
| Subclass | Theria (Mammals that give live birth) | ||
| Infraclass | Placentalia (Placental mammals) | ||
| Order | Artiodactyla (Even-toed ungulates) | ||
| Suborder | Ruminantia (Ruminants) | ||
| Infraorder | Pecora | ||
| Family | Bovidae (Bovids) | ||
| Subfamily | Antilopinae (True Antelopes) | ||
| Infrafamily | Antilopini | ||
| Genus | Litocranius | ||
| Species | walleri | ||
| Subspecies | sclateri walleri | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Near Threatened | ||
| First sighting | 1878 | ||
| Last sighting | Current | ||
The Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), also known as the Giraffe Gazelle, is a species of long-necked antelope found in the Horn of Africa region as well as drier parts of East Africa.
Gerenuk can live about thirteen years in captivity, and at least eight years in the wild.
Physiology[]
Gerenuks are characterized by its long, slender neck and limbs, similar to a giraffe; this also causes it to resemble a gazelle, thus where its two namesakes originate from. It also has a flat, wedge-like head and large, round eyes. They possess a smooth coat that is mostly reddish brown along the dorsal regions, saddle, and sides overall, and with flanks lightening to a fawn or buff color. White markings surround their large eyes. Females have a dark patch on their crown. Hi I’m here to say that im a Gerenuk.. haha I wish lol good day
The species displays sexual dimorphism. Males are taller and heavier than females with males being around 35-41" tall (89-105 cm) and 68-115 lbs (31-52 kg) and with lyre-like ("S"-shaped) horns that curve backward before slightly forward that measure between 9.8-17.3" (25-44 cm) long; females being 31-39" tall (80-100 cm) and 62-99 lbs (28-45 kg). Both possess a tail measuring 9.8-13.8" (25–35 cm) in length.
The range of the Gerenuk.
They are quite similar to the Dibatag, which it is sympatric with in eastern and central Somalia as well as in southeastern Ethiopia. While they share several facial and cranial features as well as coloration and strong thick horn design, there are still major morphological differences: The easiest way to tell them apart is that Gerenuks have a longer and heavier neck and a shorter tail; however their horns are shaped differently, their tail is different, as is their postorbital area. The horn cores can be used to identify them as well as their basioccipital processes. Not only this but Gerenuks have the absence of an inward-curving lobe in the lower edge of the ear near its tip.
Two subspecies of Gerenuk exist – The Northern Gerenuk, also known as Sclater's Gazelle (L. w. sclateri) ranges from northwestern Somalia from the Berbera District and westward to touch the Ethiopian border, and Djibouti. The Southern Gerenuk, also known as Waller's Gazelle (L. w. walleri) ranges through northeastern Tanzania through Kenya to Galcaio (Somalia) with its range lying north of the Shebelle River and near to Juba River. This southern subspecies is smaller than its northern brethren.
Ecology and behavior[]
Being diurnal animals, they can be found typically standing or at full rest in the shade at noon to help manage the heat of the area; they are known to expose themselves to rain presumably for the same reason. They spend most of the rest of their day foraging and feeding, with females spending longer periods of time feeding.
Gerenuks live in small social herds consisting of between 2 to 6 members. Interestingly, they usually comprise of a single sex, though herds of females will obviously include young of either sex, including juveniles. Males are known to live solitary lives at times. They do not like to fight or travel much and both are seen as uncommon practices. This may be a strategy to conserve energy for further foraging. As such, herds tend to maintain ranges of 1.2-2.3 sq miles (3-6 sq km) large; these ranges may overlap those of other herds. Males will guard their ranges (sometiems referred to as territories because of this tactic) and are scent-marked by then using secretions from a preorbital gland. As they age, it appears their sedentary tendency increases as well.
Diet[]
Gerenuks are browsers and will feed upon the foliage of bushes and trees, as well as eat herbs, flowers, fruits, and shoots. Their long necks are used in conjunction with a temporarily bipedal stance to allow them to reach higher branches and twigs over other gazelles and antelopes; this helps it reach over 6.6 ft (2 m) above the ground. They display a preference for Acacias whenever available, and stick to evergreen vegetation during droughts. They have a pointed mouth to assist them in removing leaves from thorny floral defenses. They do not need to drink water regularly as they obtain most of their required moisture through their diet and try and conserve energy.
Reproduction[]
Gerenuks will reproduce throughout the year and do not maintain a breeding season. Females reach maturity at around a year old while it will take a male another six months (1.5 years total) to mature though interestingly they may only be successful upon acquiring a territory which can take roughly 3.5 years.
Females gestate for around 7 months before giving birth to a single foal that will weigh 6.6 lbs (3kg) at birth.