The Giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. Males may be 16-18 feet tall and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
Females are usually lighter and about two feet shorter.
The giraffe's front legs are only slightly longer than the back ones, the height of the fore part of the body being largely due to the heavy muscular development of the base of the neck. The long neck has the usual seven vertebrae of most mammals, although each is greatly elongated. The powerful kick from the front feet can kill a lion. The giraffe is one of the few ruminants born with horns. Both sexes have horns which are covered with skin.