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Good morning all, well it is Tuesday and that means it is creature day and this weeks creature is the Gerenuk, heard of it, no, me either but it is my book of freaky creatures so here it is.
This giraffe-necked gazelle has muscular hind legs that allow it to stand upright. By using it's front legs to bend branches downwards, it can nibble leaves up to 2.5m (8ft 2in) off the ground.
It also has oversized rabbit-like ears, which are always listening for approaching predators as well as other gerenuks. The antelope use several sounds to communicate: a buzzing when alarmed, a whistle when annoyed and a loud bleat when in extreme danger.
They can go a whole year without drinking water, getting all its moisture from its herbivorous diet of shoots, leaves, herbs, flowers and fruit.
The males are around 31-52kgs(68-115lb) and the females around 28-45kgs(62-99lb). The height for males is 90-105cm (35-41in) and females are 80-100cm (31-39in). They live for around 8 years in the wild and 13 years in captivity.
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Where are these strange animals?
ReplyDeleteEastern part of Africa
DeleteI actually remember seeing these gazelles eating on their hind legs in a nature show but never would have remembered the name of them in a million years--LOL!
ReplyDeleteNeither would I
DeleteI've never heard of this creature. It is amazing how it can stand on it's hind legs. How to believe that they can go that long without water.
ReplyDeleteI know the not drinking water part is weird
DeleteAnother new animal for me, Jo-Anne. Do they live in Africa?
ReplyDeleteYes they are found in the Eastern part of Africa
DeleteI had to laugh when I saw that animal standing on his hind legs, I wondered if the picture had been photo shopped,
ReplyDeleteI thought they looked funny
DeleteOnce again, my childhood animal encyclopedia pays off here!
ReplyDelete