The Giraffes
by Krysta CardinaleGiraffes are the tallest terrestrial living mammal in the world. They are considered African even-toed ungulates, meaning they are hoofed mammals whose weight is distributed equally by the third and fourth toes (rather than entirely by the third). The giraffe is a highly revered animal, as much for its imposing stature as for its unusual beauty unseen anywhere else in the wild. Ancient African cultures and many modern ones venerate the giraffes. It has been celebrated for centuries, dating back to the days of cave paintings. It was historically thought to be a cross between a camel and a leopard, a mistake made permanent in its scientific name of giraffa camelopardalis. All giraffes are found in Africa, and are usually native to large fields or plains containing a good population of tall trees.
Physical Facts about Giraffes
Known for their height, male African Giraffes can be up to 18 feet tall and weight up to 2,000 pounds. The female generally are a little smaller. They have a lifespan of 20-25 years. This specie has several very distinct features. Each giraffe is covered with a unique pattern of spots and a white underneath. They have extremely long necks, but like most mammals have a seven neck vertebrae (theirs are just elongated). These elongated vertebrae protrude at the top of a giraffe’s head forming small rounded horns. The Giraffe’s tongue also stands out. It is extremely long, tough, and black in color. This tongue is used for feeding and for swiping away insects on their faces.
In addition to these features, the giraffe has significant difference evolved in its circulatory system. Its heart can grow up to 24 pounds. This heart has to maintain double the blood pressure of other large mammals in order for enough oxygen to reach the brain against gravity. When a giraffe bends its head down, there is also a mechanism called rete mirabile that does not allow too much blood flow to the brain.
Other facts about giraffes that make them unique and different from any other mammal would include their sleeping pattern. In a twenty-four hour period they only need twenty minutes to two hours of sleep. Giraffes are also said to speak on a infrasound level and are often mistaken for mute.
African Giraffes are considered a decently fast animal. However, if they are in danger or being chases, they can run at an extremely fast pace. The only downfall would be that they do not have a high endurance and cannot hold up a fast pace for an extended period of time. When casually walking they move both right legs at the same time and then both left. When they are in a full run their back legs overlap on the outside with the front pair. Since the Giraffes height is incomparable, other animals will use them as a warning system for their ability to spot predators at a far distance.
The Facts about Giraffes’ Diet
The Giraffe’s height gives it a lofty perspective and dining exclusivity. It enjoys tree top meals that others can’t reach. Its sensitive tongue navigates easily through the acacias wickedly sharp spines, choosing only the most succulent leaves. With their 18 inch long tongues, African Giraffes browse through trees and twigs preferring plants and leaves. Their diet is not limited to this, and can also include other times of vegetable life. On average a Giraffe eats about 140 pounds of food a day.
Facts about Giraffes’ Mating
Giraffes have a gestation, pregnancy, period of about 15 months. Females can only give birth to one calf at a time. Baby giraffes are born with a height of already 1.8 meters. It does not take long for baby giraffes to get up and going, after only a few hours a new born cannot be distinguished from one a week old. Females give birth standing up and for the first two weeks afterwards guard their new born, who spends much of the time lying down. Baby giraffes only have a survival rate of 25-50%. Lions, wild dogs, and leopards are all predators of baby giraffes, since adults are way too large. A male giraffe determines when a female is fertile by tasting her urine.
The giraffes’ mating procedure is more like a courtship than any other mammal. Around late October males can be seen what it looks like “fox trotting.” This “dance” is used to impress nearby females that have been identified as fertile. A favorable female response in a male giraffe’s mating dance is said to be some type of howl.
