Skip to main content

Giraffe

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Giraffidae
Genus : Giraffa 
Species : camelopardalis

Height : Males 18ft (5.5m); Females 13-15ft (4-4.5m)
Weight : Males 3,000lbs (1,360kg); Females 1,500lbs (680kg)

IUCN Status : Least Concern for the species overall, but the Niger and Rothschild's subspecies are listed as Endangered

Giraffes are pretty awesome and unique animals. So unique in fact, that there are only two living species in their entire family- the Okapis and the Giraffes themselves. There are presently nine recognized subspecies of Giraffe, each with its own distribution and coat pattern. But interestingly, new research might demonstrate that some of these subspecies are fragmented enough to be considered their own species.

Giraffes have some big distinctions within the animal kingdom. They are the tallest of all land animals, and they also win the prize for the longest tail, which can reach up to 8ft (2.4m) in length! They also have feet that measure over 12in (30.5cm) in diameter.

Another fun fact in Giraffe anatomy regards their necks. Though their necks are super long, they have the exact same number of vertebrae in them that humans do- just seven! Giraffes also have incredibly long tongues that can grow up to 18in (48cm). These tongues allow them to feed off the thorny Acacia trees that deter many other species.

The tallness of the Giraffes also plays into their reproduction. You see, they don't give birth laying down. Young Giraffes, called calves, fall over 6ft (1.8m) to the ground when they are born. They are then walking around within an hour. Calves remain with their mothers for up to six months, and grow very quickly. Giraffes are social animals, but their herds are very loose; individuals come and go over time. Adults Giraffes don't have a whole lot of predators, but calves are preyed upon by several species, including Lions, Leopards, and Hyenas.

(Images of Giraffes at the Milwaukee County and Lincoln park Zoos)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bornean Orangutan

The Bornean Orangutan is one of two extant Orangutan species in the world. It is the third largest primate (after Gorillas) and is the largest primarily tree-dwelling animal in the world. Males are substantially larger than females, and average at around 165lbs. Bornean Orangutans are largely solitary. A handful might live within a small range but they will seldom interact with one another. Males and females only meet up to breed, which happens only once every several years. A young Orangutan will stay with it's mother for about five years, and the females tend to go about eight years between births. That is the longest interim period of any animal! Sadly, the Bornean Orangutans are in a lot of trouble. They need large forests in order to thrive, and deforestation and habitat degradation has left many homeless. They are also hunted for meat and for traditional medicines. Conservation areas are being established to help these guys in the wild, and it is believed that there are a
59 comments
Read more

Four!

For anyone who was counting, yesterday was our birthday-- four years! Four years filled with animals from A to Z, more than 1,100 of them! I can't thank my readers enough, it's been wonderful! And in celebration of that milestone... I'm taking a break. Hopefully not forever, but for a little bit at least. In the mean time I plan on getting a new layout out, along with some updates to some of the older articles. I'll post updates here and on the Facebook page, I'm also brainstorming some new animal-related projects, so keep an eye out! Thanks again for four awesome years!
18 comments
Read more

Halloween Crab

Gecarcinus quadratus The Halloween Crab goes by many names, including the Red Land Crab, Whitespot Crab, and Moon Crab. I personally like Halloween Crab though, since it really reflects the interesting colors. They have black carapaces, orange-red legs, and purple claws! Halloween Crabs live in the Pacific coast mangroves and forests of Central and South America. They actually live in the forests as adults, and return to the ocean in order to reproduce. Did you know that they live as far away as 18 miles (30km)  from water? Not where you normally think Crabs to be! While living in the forest, the Crabs forage nocturnally for different plant matter, including leaves and sapling. They also dig long burrows into the ground for protection. These burrows can measure nearly 5 ft long! Halloween Crabs are sometimes kept in captivity, and can be very tricky pets due to their excellent climbing skills. IUCN Status :  Not Listed Location :   Cent
Post a Comment
Read more