Giraffe narigrande (SciiFii)

The giraffe narigrande (Epiauchenia giraffina) is a species of litoptern mammal, most closely related to the camoose, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across South America to help boost biodiversity. The giraffe narigrande is the world's largest species of litoptern, growing on average of 3.8 to 4.7 meters (12.4 - 15.4 feet) tall at the shoulder and weigh bit around 1,270 kilograms (2,800 lbs). The fur of the giraffe narigrande consists of a sandy-yellow fur with pale legs and an underbelly, and a brown face with two "eyespots" on the top of its nostrils. The giraffe narigrande survive primarily on a diet of leaves from a wide array of native and some nonnative trees. Giraffe narigrandes live in herds of related females and their offspring or bachelor herds of unrelated adult males, but are gregarious and may gather in large aggregations. Males establish social hierarchies through "necking", combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear sole responsibility for raising the young. Giraffe narigrande gestation lasts 400–460 days, after which a single calf is normally born, although twins occur on rare occasions. The mother gives birth standing up. The calf emerges head and front legs first. A newborn giraffe narigrande is 1.7–2 meters (5.6–6.6 feet) tall. Within a few hours of birth, the calf can run around and is almost indistinguishable from a one-week-old. However, for the first one to three weeks, it spends most of its time hiding, its spotted coat pattern (which is unlike the adults' dull colorations) providing camouflage. Mothers with calves will gather in nursery herds, moving or browsing together. Mothers in such a group may sometimes leave their calves with one female while they forage and drink elsewhere. This is known as a "calving pool". Calves are at risk of predation, and a mother giraffe narigrande will stand over them and kick at an approaching predator. Females watching calving pools will only alert their own young if they detect a disturbance, although the others will take notice and follow. Calves first ruminate at four to six months and stop nursing at six to eight months. Young may not reach independence until they are 14 months old. Females become sexually mature when they are four years old, while males become mature at four or five years. Spermatogenesis in male giraffe narigrandes begins at three to four years of age. Males must wait until they are at least seven years old to gain the opportunity to mate. The conservation status of the giraffe narigrande is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the giraffe narigrande is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii