Litocranius walleri
The Gerenuk is found in the woodland forest or on the open, dry brushy plains of Somalia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. The word Gerenuk means “giraffe-necked” in Somali language.
Gerenuks eat food from higher places. They can stand up on their hind legs for long periods of time and stretch out their long necks to get food from tall bushes (6 to 8 feet off the ground). They eat leaves, buds, flowers, fruit, and climbing plants. They can get all water they need from the food they eat.
Gerenuks are often prey for cheetahs, leopards, lions, and jackals.
The picture of this Gerenuk was taken at the zoo of Columbus, Ohio, in August 2002.
Genus Litocranius
Subfamily Antilopinae
Family Bovidae
Order Artiodactyla
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
Index