The gerenuk, also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked, medium-sized antelope found in parts of East Africa and the sole member of its genus, Litocranius, first described by the naturalist Victor Brooke in 1879. It stands 80 to 105 centimetres tall and weighs between 18 and 52 kilograms, distinguished by its unusually long, slender neck and limbs and a smooth coat showing two distinct colors, a reddish-brown saddle across the back set against lighter fawn-to-buff flanks. Only males carry horns, which are lyre-shaped, curving backward and then slightly forward, and typically measure 25 to 44 centimetres.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceThe eyes and the mouth are surrounded by white fur 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Litocranius walleri
In Ecosystem
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Litocranius walleri
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Gerenuk, Wikipedia
Taxobox, scientific name field
Litocranius walleri
Infobox: status
NT
Description section
The eyes and the mouth are surrounded by white fur.
View the Source2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. Gerenuk (Wikipedia)
a long-necked, medium-sized antelope found in parts of East AfricaView the Source 4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Litocranius walleri
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
Although they are limited in supply for hunters and have a limited range, they continue to be hunted for trophies and for bush meat
In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
desert or dune desert or dune
In Ecosystem: Serengeti, Geographic Range
Litocranius walleri inhabits the dry brushy region of east Africa from the Serengeti plain of Tanzania north along the coast through Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and into southern Somalia.
View the Source 5. GBIF Species API
Wikidata: Gerenuk
Wikidata Q208112, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: ArtiodactylaView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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