The gerenuk is one of the most exclusive browsers because it has the ability to stand on its lengthy hind legs and use its long neck to obtain tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species.
The gerenuk is well adapted for obtaining forage from its arid habitats. Its long neck, long legs, and the ability to stand on its hind legs allows it to obtain tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species.
This permits gerenuks to be selective in the foods they eat and to be efficient browsers of herbaceous plants. As such, the gerenuk is one of the most exclusive browsers.
• Image | ©️ Laura Wolf, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY 2.0)
• Sources | (Grzimek, 1990; IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2016; Payne, 2003)
