What the sources say
GerenukLitocranius walleri
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Gerenuk profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 42 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Litocranius walleri (gerenuk). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysA bipedal antelope of Africa's dry thornbush that rears onto its hind legs to reach leaves other antelope can't
- The source says
the ability to stand on their hind legs allows L. walleri to obtain tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species
- The page saysdoes not drink standing water, relying instead on the succulent plants it eats
- The source says
L. walleri does not drink free standing water, they instead rely on water taken in when they eat succulent plants.
- The page saysfrom Tanzania's treeless plains to the dry high deserts of Kenya
- The source says
The habitat that Litocranius walleri occupies varies from the treeless plains of Tanzania in the southern reaches of its range to the dry high deserts of Kenya.
- The page saysand succulent plants for water
- The source says
L. walleri does not drink free standing water, they instead rely on water taken in when they eat succulent plants.
- The page saysmore than 80 plant species have been found in one gerenuk's stomach
- The source says
Over 80 different species of plants have been found in a single individuals stomach.
- The page saysRears onto its hind legs to browse tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species
- The source says
the ability to stand on their hind legs allows L. walleri to obtain tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species
- The page saysAdult gerenuks stay motionless at the approach of danger, a habit more common in forest-dwelling antelope than in desert-adapted ones
- The source says
As adults they show an adaptation that is more common to forest dwelling antelopes than to desert-adapted ones, they freeze at the aproach of danger.
- The page saysFawns also keep still, hidden in bushes and tall grass not far from their feeding mother
- The source says
Young L. walleri remain motionless while hiding in the bushes and tall grasses not far from their mothers during the day when the mother is feeding.
- The page saysA 2003 account on Animal Diversity Web
- The source says
Last updated: 2003-05-22
- The page saysthe species was once found in eastern Egypt and northeastern Sudan as well
- The source says
The species was once found in eastern Egypt and northeastern Sudan as well.
- The page saysMales and females are a similar size, but males are more muscular, which makes them heavier
- The source says
Both sexes of L. walleri are of similar size but the males are more muscular than females causing them to outweigh them.
- The page saysHorns are a male-only feature
- The source says
Only males of this species have head ornamentation in the form of scimitar shaped horns
- The page saysA gerenuk's long neck and long, thin legs are its defining features, making it one of the world's most easily recognized antelopes
- The source says
The long neck and long, thin legs of gerenuks are their defining features; these make them one of the world's most easily recognized antelopes.
- The page saysIt weighs 29 to 58 kilograms and runs 140 to 160 centimetres in body length, plus a 220 to 350-millimetre tail
- The source says
Mass ranges from 29 to 58 kg, total body length from 140 to 160 cm, and tail length from 220 to 350 mm.
- The page saysOnly males carry horns, curved and scimitar-shaped, 25 to 44 centimetres long
- The source says
Only males of this species have head ornamentation in the form of scimitar shaped horns ranging from 25 to 44 centimeters in length.
- The page saysThe coat is pale tawny brown, white along the breast and belly, with a dark patch around each eye that fades outward into a white rim
- The source says
The pelage is a pale tawny brown with white along the breast, underbelly, and inner legs. ... On the head there is a dark patch around the eyes that pales as it goes outward until it forms a white rim.
- The page saysLong neck, long legs and the ability to stand on its hind legs let the gerenuk reach tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species
- The source says
Their long necks, long legs, and the ability to stand on their hind legs allows L. walleri to obtain tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species.
- The page saysThat reach lets the gerenuk be selective about what it eats
- The source says
This permits gerenuks to be selective in the foods they eat
Note: 'lets' paraphrases the source's 'This permits' - The page saysMore than 80 different plant species have been found in a single gerenuk's stomach
- The source says
Over 80 different species of plants have been found in a single individuals stomach.
- The page saysThe gerenuk lives across a range of dry habitats, from Tanzania's treeless plains to Kenya's high deserts, and does well in a variety of them as long as there's a good supply of succulent plants
- The source says
The habitat that Litocranius walleri occupies varies from the treeless plains of Tanzania in the southern reaches of its range to the dry high deserts of Kenya. They are adaptable and do well in a variety of habitats, provided there is a good supply of succulent plants.
- The page saysIt does not drink from standing water, relying instead on the water it takes in from the succulent plants it eats
- The source says
L. walleri does not drink free standing water, they instead rely on water taken in when they eat succulent plants.
- The page saysMale gerenuks are solitary and very territorial
- The source says
Males are solitary and very territorial
- The page saysDominant males mark out a territory on trees and shrubs with their preorbital gland, a scent gland in front of the eye
- The source says
Dominant males establish territories by marking trees and shrubs with their preorbital gland.
- The page saysA male's territory can run 300 to 850 acres and support several individuals
- The source says
The size of a males territory can range from 300 to 850 acres and can support several indivduals.
- The page saysFemales move in small bands of up to about 10, usually related adults with young, roaming freely across male territories
- The source says
Females form small bands of up to about 10 individuals, usualy related adults with young. These groups of females and young roam freely throughout male territories.
- The page saysLions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hyenas, servals, caracals, honey badgers and large eagles are known predators of gerenuks
- The source says
cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) leopards (Panthera pardus) lions (Panthera leo) cape hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) hyenas (Hyaeninae) servals (Leptailurus serval) ratel (Mellivora capensis) caracals (Caracal caracal) large eagles (Accipitridae)
Note: 'cape hunting dogs' and 'ratel' are ADW's names for the African wild dog and honey badger - The page saysA gerenuk rears onto its hind legs to reach tree leaves other antelope can't
- The source says
the ability to stand on their hind legs allows L. walleri to obtain tree leaves that are out of reach for most other antelope species
Note: vibe.reason; 'other antelope' paraphrases 'most other antelope species' - The page saysadults freeze when danger approaches
- The source says
As adults they show an adaptation that is more common to forest dwelling antelopes than to desert-adapted ones, they freeze at the aproach of danger.
Note: vibe.reason
Source
02
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database
Litocranius walleri. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database.
- The page saysGerenuks have been estimated to live up to 12 years in the wild
- The source says
In the wild, these animals have been estimated to live up to 12 years [ 0542 ].
Note: AnAge (build 2023) replaces ADW's 2003 'averages 10 - 12 years': AnAge treats 12 as a maximum - The page saysone captive gerenuk lived for 17.3 years
- The source says
One captive specimen lived for 17.3 years [ 0671 ].
Source
03
Bärmann, Klappert & Chen 2021
Bärmann, Klappert & Chen (2021). Litocranius walleri (Artiodactyla: Bovidae). Mammalian Species.
- The page saysArid thornbush savannah of northeastern Africa
- The source says
It is commonly found in dry thornbush savannah in northeastern Africa
Note: current range from the 2021 account; ADW's 2003 country list was dropped as a dated current-state claim. 'Arid' keeps the desert biome and matches ADW's 'forage from their arid habitats' - The page saysMostly leaves of thorny shrubs and trees
- The source says
where it feeds almost exclusively on thorny shrubs and trees
- The page saysThe gerenuk is the only species in its own genus, Litocranius
- The source says
L. walleri is the only species in the genus Litocranius.
- The page saysit remains a close relative of the gazelles
- The source says
It is a medium-sized antelope closely related to gazelles and springbok
- The page saysA newer species account in Mammalian Species places it in the dry thornbush savannah of northeastern Africa
- The source says
It is commonly found in dry thornbush savannah in northeastern Africa
Note: the 2021 Mammalian Species account (Bärmann, Klappert & Chen); no year on the page because the FAQ's ref is ADW - The page saysand reports that its population is decreasing
- The source says
because its population trends are decreasing
- The page saysThe gerenuk (*Litocranius walleri*) is an antelope of the dry thornbush savannah of northeastern Africa, and it often eats standing up
- The source says
It is commonly found in dry thornbush savannah in northeastern Africa, where it feeds almost exclusively on thorny shrubs and trees while frequently using a bipedal stance.
- The page saysIt feeds almost exclusively on thorny shrubs and trees, frequently using this bipedal stance to do it
- The source says
where it feeds almost exclusively on thorny shrubs and trees while frequently using a bipedal stance
- The page saysIt's a medium-sized antelope closely related to gazelles and springbok, but unlike them it has low-crowned teeth, meaning teeth with short chewing crowns
- The source says
It is a medium-sized antelope closely related to gazelles and springbok, but unlike these it has low-crowned teeth.
- The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened because its population is decreasing
- The source says
L. walleri is classified as “Near Threatened” (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) because its population trends are decreasing.
Source
04
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1879). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- The page saysIt was first described as Gazella walleri, and that old name survives as a synonym today
- The source says
Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1879) ... Synonym(s): Litocranius walleri walleri (Brooke, 1879) Gazella walleri Brooke, 1879
Note: year dropped: ITIS gives 1879, the 2021 Mammalian Species account gives Brooke, 1878
Source
05
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016
Litocranius walleri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T12142A50190292.
- The page saysNear Threatened
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Near Threatened (NT).
Note: iucnredlist.org refuses scripts; category read via GBIF's copy of the Red List (node_modules/.cache/animaltracks/source-text/e1a227236687cb0a.txt)
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.