The Tallest Antelope of them all...

The Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri) is a species of antelope that possesses several useful adaptations. The word "gerenuk" means "giraffe necked" in the Somali language. Their enormously elongated necks and thin, spindly legs help them to reach the branches high up on the trees and eat the leaves and shoots there. This is very useful as there are over 40 species of antelope living in Africa and this adaptation allows the gerenuk to occupy a different niche in ecosystems to other antelope species, reducing competition.

Gerenuks have also adapted to survive predation, using very large ears which can hear from far distances to alert them of stalking predators.

Unfortunately, while their long, thin legs are perfect for giving them an extra boost to reach acacia leaves, they’re also incredibly fragile, and there have been several cases of gerenuks snapping their leg bones while running across the Savannah. It just goes to show how specialisation in one area can leave other aspects of life inherently lacking.