Giraffe Gazelle

The sole member of its genus, the gerenuk is a species of antelope identifiable by its long neck and legs, giving it the alternative name Giraffe gazelle. Males may reach up to 105cm (3.5ft) tall and weigh up to 52kg (115lbs), with females being smaller. Only males possess horns, which are lyre-shape in appearance. The gerenuk's back is distinctly darker than the rest of its body.

Native to eastern Africa, the gerenuk lives in dry wooded savannah in small herds of up to six individuals. It is a browser, feeding on a variety of bushes and trees. Whilst feeding, a gerenuk will rear up onto its hind legs to reach vegetation, allowing it to feed over 2m (6.7ft) off the ground. The gerenuk is adapted for a sedentary life in dry conditions; it does not need to drink often and rarely travels outside its home range. A gerenuk may live for up to eight years in the wild and slightly longer in captivity.