What are baby giraffes called? | Reference.com What are baby giraffes called? A: Quick Answer Baby giraffes are called calves. A calf can stand and walk about an hour after it is born, and it begins exploring vegetation within a week. Full Answer Giraffe babies are usually calm. If a mother leaves a calf alone, it will sit quietly and wait for her to return. Older calves stay in a "nursery" with other calves. One giraffe mother stays to watch over them while the others find food and socialize. Calves develop social skills through nursery play as well as build strength and dexterity. Although they will eat bits of vegetation when very young, giraffes do not eat leaves regularly until they are about 4 months old. They continue nursing until they are about 6 to 9 months of age. Giraffe - Facts, Sounds, Diet & Habitat Information You are here: Home / Animals / Giraffe Giraffe Image Source The Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis meaning ‘fast walking camel leopard) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species.

The giraffe is related to deer and cattle, however, it is placed in a separate family, the Giraffidae, consisting only of the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi. The giraffes range extends from Chad to South Africa. Although the Okapi is much shorter than the giraffe, it also has a long neck and eats leaves and both animals have long tongues and skin-covered horns. The giraffes ancestors first appeared in central Asia about 15 million years ago, however, the earliest fossil records of the giraffe itself, from Israel and Africa, date back about 1.5 million years. Male giraffes are called ‘Bulls’, female giraffes are called ‘Cows’ and baby giraffes are called ‘Calves’. Giraffe Characteristics The giraffe is the tallest living animal which is instantly recognizable by its exceptionally long neck. Adult males stand 15 – 19 feet (4.6 – 6.0 metres) tall, whereas females are shorter at 13 – 16 feet (4 – 4.8 metres) tall.

Adult males weigh between 1,764 – 4,255 pounds (800 – 930 kilograms), while females weigh only 1,213 – 2,601 pounds (550 – 1,180 kilograms). The giraffe has the longest tail of any land mammal. Their tail can grow to be 8 feet (2.4 metres) long, including the tuft on the end. In addition to its great height, the giraffe is also one of the heaviest land animals. Exceptionally large males may weigh up to 1,900 kilograms (about 4,200 pounds). Female giraffes are smaller, rarely reaching half that weight. Compared to other hoofed mammals the giraffe has a relatively short body, however, its legs are disproportionately long. ADVERTISEMENT A giraffes front legs are about 10% longer than their hind legs, a feature that contributes to the animals steeply sloping back. Mature giraffes have large hooves about the size of dinner plates, around 12 inches wide. Giraffe Habitat Giraffes can inhabit savannas, grasslands or open woodlands.

Giraffes prefer areas enriched with acacia growth (a genus of shrubs and trees). Most giraffes live either in East Africa or in Angola and Zambia in southwestern Africa. Until the middle of the 20th century giraffes were also commonly found in West Africa, south of the Sahara. But populations there have fallen sharply and become increasingly fragmented. Giraffe Diet Giraffes live in habitats where the available food varies throughout the year. During the dry season, giraffes eat evergreen leaves, however, once the rainy season begins, they switch to new leaves and stems that sprout on deciduous trees. Also, twigs and branches are pulled into the mouth of the giraffe with their long and dextrous tongues. In the wild giraffes can eat up to 66 kilograms of food daily. When there is a choice, male and female giraffes feed in different ways. Males concentrate on leaves from the highest branches, while the females arch their necks to eat closer to the ground. Because of this characteristic behaviour, a giraffe can be identified as either male or female from a long distance away simply by its stance while eating.

Male giraffes are also more inclined to wander into dense woodland, a habitat that females generally avoid. Giraffes drink large quantities of water and as a result, they can spend long periods of time in dry, arid areas. When searching for more food they will venture into areas with denser foliage. The giraffe has tough lips to ensure there is no damage to their mouths when chewing at trees and twigs such as thorns. Giraffes in captivity are generally fed on alfalfa hay and pellets, apples, carrots, bananas and browse (elm and alder are favourites). Giraffe Behaviour Female giraffes associate in groups of a dozen or so members, occasionally including a few younger males. Male giraffes tend to live in bachelor herds, with older males often leading solitary lives. A individual giraffe can join or leave the herd at any time and for no particular reason. Because giraffes are so widely scattered, it may seem that they do not keep in contact with each other, however, this is not true. A giraffes keen eyesight means they can keep an eye on their neighbours even at a distance.

Female giraffes spend just over half a 24 hour day browsing, male giraffes spend less time doing this – about 43% of the time that the female does. Night is mostly spent lying down ruminating, especially in the hours after dark and before dawn. Male giraffes spend about 22% of the 24 hours walking, compared to 13% for female giraffes. The rest of the time male giraffes are searching for a female giraffe to mate with. Giraffe herds do not have a leader and individual giraffes show no particular preferences for others in the herd. Young giraffes are never left alone, however, they are looked after in a kind of nursery group where the females help look after each others calves (baby giraffes). Giraffes spend up to half their time feeding and most of the remainder is taken up either by searching for food or slowly digesting what they have eaten. Sometimes giraffes sleep during the daytime, often while standing. Giraffes normally lie down only at night, tucking their feet under the body and usually keeping the head upright.

However, when a giraffe is sleeping, something it does only for just a few minutes at a time, it curves its neck around and rests its head on or near its behind. One of the most fascinating elements of giraffe behaviour is the duel between males fighting for mating partners. Giraffe duels are among the most extraordinary in the animal kingdom. Duels begin when two males approach each other and engage in rubbing and intertwining their necks. This behaviour is known as ‘necking’. It allows the opponents to assess each others size and strength. Often, necking alone is enough to establish dominance. If not, the rivals begin to exchange blows with their heads, using their short horns to tackle each other. Each giraffe braces its front legs and swings its head upward and over its shoulder. If a blow lands solidly, the giraffe may stagger under the impact and in rare cases may even collapse onto the ground. More often the contest breaks off after a few minutes and the loser simply walks away. Giraffe Reproduction The Giraffe breeding season can occur at any time during the year. However, births in the wild usually happen during the dry season and births in captivity can happen all year round.

Giraffes reach sexual maturity in captivity at around 3 – 4 years old, however, in the wild, males do not usually breed until they are 6 – 7 years old. In contrast to the male breeding age, females must be physically larger to carry offspring. When male giraffes are ready to breed, they begin the ritual combat over mates. Giraffes are non- territorial and a successful male giraffe will mate with receptive female giraffes whenever and wherever it finds them. Gestation period is usually 13 – 15 months and when a pregnant female giraffe is ready to give birth, she makes her way to a calving area that she will use throughout her life. The moment of birth is dramatic, with the mother giraffe standing on all fours and the calf tumbling onto the ground. Remarkably, the calf is rarely injured by its fall. Newborn giraffes are often on their feet within 20 minutes and are soon feeding on their mothers milk. Calves can walk about an hour after birth and can run within 24 hours of birth.

Giraffe calves are about 2 metres (6 feet) tall at birth and weigh 104 – 154 pounds. Giraffe calves grow about 3 centimetres tall each day during the first week and double their height in their first year. By the age of one year giraffe calves can measure 10 feet tall. Giraffe calves are weaned at one year and become fully independent by 15 months of age. Female giraffe calves are fully grown by age five and male giraffe calves by the age of seven. Young giraffes may suckle for up to a year, however, they start to sample plants just a few weeks after birth. Giraffe calves are ready to leave the protection of their mother after 15 – 18 months of development. Adult giraffes generally have no predators other than lions and humans, as their huge hooves are very effective in defending against predators. Giraffes are more vulnerable when they are lying down or drinking, because this gives lions the opportunity to leap up and seize them by the nose or throat. Newly born calves are at much greater risk.

Despite their mothers best efforts to protect them, over 50 percent of all giraffe newborns are killed by hyenas and big cats such as lions and leopards during the first month of their life.In captivity, giraffes have lived over the age of 30 years, however, their maximum life span in the wild is about 25 years. How does a Giraffe move? Giraffes have two ways of moving, a loping walk and a gallop. When they walk, the giraffes move both feet on one side of their body in unison, followed by both feet on the other side. When they run, giraffes move the front feet together, then the back feet, swinging the hind feet up and planting them in front of the forefeet. While running, the neck of a giraffe moves backward and forward to keep the animal balanced. Giraffes have a top speed of about 56 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour), however, because its legs are so long a galloping giraffe does not appear to be going very fast. Giraffes are not great travelers, despite their long legs.

Giraffes cannot walk over swampy ground because their hooves quickly sink and they very rarely wade across rivers. Giraffes on opposite banks of a river may never come into contact, unless the water levels drop. How does a Giraffe bend down? For giraffes, bending down is a daily challenge. To reach ground level for example, when drinking a giraffe has to splay its front legs at an angle of almost 45 degrees. A giraffes circulatory system is also specially modified, because the high pressure needed to pump blood up to its head could cause brain damage when the head is lowered. To deal with this problem, giraffes have elastic blood vessels that relieve some of the excess pressure. Giraffes also have a series of valves in their neck veins that ensure that blood always flows from the head back towards the heart, even when this means going against gravity. When giraffes do bend down to drink at water holes, it is commonly done in pairs. This is so that one giraffe can drink, whilst the other keeps an eye open for predators.

Giraffe Sounds Giraffes are usually silent although they can bellow, grunt or snort when alarmed, as when confronted by lions, and can also moo in distress. Hold your mouse over the giraffe photo and you may be able to hear a giraffe grunt. (ie only) Calves (young giraffes) bleat and make a mewing call, cows (female giraffes) seeking lost calves will bellow and courting bulls (male giraffes) may emit a raucous cough. Giraffes also give alarm snorts, whereby moaning, snoring, hissing and flute like sounds have been reported. Giraffes also give out a grunting sound that sounds like a pig. Giraffe Adaptions Giraffes have amazing adaptions that help them with their lifestyle in the wild. Because giraffes grow to a very tall height, it gives them access to a level of foliage beyond reach of all other large browsing animals all except possibly, the elephant. Along with their height, giraffes have an incredible array of adaptations. For example, their skin colouring provides excellent camouflage, as it has many different patches of variable size and colour.

Giraffes skin is very thick, so it provides ample protection and insulation. Also, the giraffe’s long eyelids keep out ants and sense thorns on the branches of the trees from which they browse. The valves in veins of the neck control a huge rush of blood to the head when leaning over; this prevents unconsciousness. There is also a network of capillaries in the brain called the ‘wonder-net’. It acts rather like a shock absorber and is another part of the system that prevents unconsciousness. (Also see ‘ Anatomy ‘ for more facts about the giraffes neck). A giraffes tongue is over 18 inches (46 centimetres) long, and the roof of the mouth is grooved to easily strip leaves off branches. Since giraffes are extremely efficient at processing nutrients and liquids from food, they can survive without water for long periods of time. Giraffes ruminate day or night, with periods of sleep in between. Giraffes also rest with their eyes open, standing or lying for three to five minutes at a time.

Throughout the night, a giraffe may deeply sleep for five to 10 minutes lying down, yet they rarely sleep more than 20 minutes total per day. Giraffe Conservation Status Like many of Africas large mammals, giraffes have declined in numbers and in range over the last century. At one time, herds of over 100 animals were common in savanna regions across the continent, however, today concentrations like these exist only in East Africa particularly Tanzania Serengeti National Park. The decline of giraffe populations has largely been due to hunting. In Africa, the giraffe is a traditional source of hide and hair and also of tough but nutritious meat. Hunting of giraffes has not yet had a catastrophic effect, as it has on some of Africas big-game animals, but it is a cause for concern. The natural habitat of the giraffe is also being impacted more and more by human activities, reducing the animals range. The giraffe is currently a protected species throughout most of its range and is classed as conservation-dependent by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

The giraffes prospects for survival are good for those living in national parks and game reserves, but for animals living outside these areas the future is less secure. More Fascinating Animals to Learn About Giraffe | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants SPECIES: camelopardalis ABOUT Hello up there! Why do so many people look up to giraffes—besides the obvious reason? The long and short of it is that they are a wonderful example of nature’s creativity. Giraffes are the tallest land animals. A giraffe could look into a second-story window without even having to stand on its tiptoes! A giraffe's 6-foot (1.8-meter) neck weighs about 600 pounds (272 kilograms). The legs of a giraffe are also 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. The back legs look shorter than the front legs, but they are about the same length. A giraffe's heart is 2 feet (0.6 meters) long and weighs about 25 pounds (11 kilograms), and its lungs can hold 12 gallons (55 liters) of air! Its closest relative is the okapi.

Giraffes have a small hump on their back and have a spotted pattern similar to that of a leopard. For a long time people called the giraffe a “camel-leopard,” because they believed that it was a combination of a camel and a leopard. That's where the giraffe's species name camelopardalis comes from! Although a recent study of giraffe genetics published in the scientific journal Current Biology concluded that there are actually four distinct species of giraffes—said to be as different from each other as polar bears are from brown bears—one species is currently recognized, with nine subspecies. The subspecies have different coat patterns and live in different parts of Africa. Giraffe coat colors vary from light tan to practically black. The differences occur due to what the giraffes eat and where they live. Each individual giraffe’s markings are as individual as our fingerprints. Masai giraffes, from Kenya, have patterns that look like oak leaves. Uganda or Rothschild's giraffes sport large, brown splotches separated by thick, beige lines. The reticulated giraffe, found only in northern Kenya, has a dark coat with a seeming web of narrow white lines.

Some researchers now believe that reticulated giraffes are so genetically different from the other subspecies that they should be reclassified as a separate species. How many bones are there in a giraffe's neck? Just like humans, giraffes have seven neck vertebrae. For giraffes, however, each one can be over 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) long! Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. Male giraffes use their horns to spar, throwing their neck against each other. As a male matures, calcium deposits begin to form on his skull to protect it when he head-butts with other males. These calcifications can be quite pronounced, giving the strange appearance of a three- to five-horned giraffe. Giraffes are so big that they really don't need to hide from predators. There is safety in numbers! It’s hard to pick out one giraffe from another when they form a tight group. Besides humans, only lions and crocodiles hunt them. If they have to, giraffes defend themselves with a deadly kick, karate-style.

Their speed, the way they move, and their body designs also help them to escape predators if they need to. Giraffes have a way of moving, or gait, in which both the front and back legs on one side move forward together, then the other two legs on the other side move forward. It’s called "pacing." Giraffes can run very fast—around 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour for short distances. You might think watching out for lions and spending 16 to 20 hours a day eating would all weigh heavily on a giraffe. Surprisingly enough, giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep in a 24-hour period! They often achieve that in quick naps that may last only a minute or two at a time. Giraffes can rest while standing, but they sometimes also lie down with their head resting on their rump. That’s a vulnerable position for a giraffe, though, so usually one herd member stays on guard. Many people think that giraffes have no voice, but they do make a variety of sounds, including moos, roars, snorts, hisses, and grunts.

They just very rarely do so. One sound giraffes make when they’re alarmed is a snort. Threats—such as lions nearby—may warrant a snort. Giraffes are often the early warning signal for other savanna animals: if a giraffe herd starts to run, everyone else does, too! Studies suggest giraffes vocalize below the level of human hearing and perhaps use this sound for long-distance communication. It’s easy to understand why giraffes top the list of so many people’s favorite animals. Their elegant stride, outrageous eyelashes, and calm expression give them an air of refinement. HABITAT AND DIET Blending right in: In a zoo, giraffes look conspicuous. But think of giraffes' presence in their African habitat, where their coat patterns actually serve as camouflage, blending with shadows and leaves. Giraffes are well adapted for living on the open, tree-dotted African plains. While other African herbivores compete for grass and small plants to eat, giraffes have the high branches with tender, young leaves all to themselves. It takes a lot of leaves to fuel such a large animal.

Giraffes may eat up to 75 pounds (34 kilograms) of food per day. They spend most of their day eating, because they get just a few leaves in each bite. Their favorite leaves are from acacia trees. These trees have long thorns that keep most animals from eating them. But those thorns don't stop the giraffes! They simply use their 18-inch (46-centimeter) tongue and prehensile lips to reach around the thorns. It is thought that the dark color of their tongue protects them from getting sunburned while reaching for leaves. Giraffes also have thick, sticky saliva that coats any thorns they might swallow. At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, giraffes eat a variety of fresh acacia leaves hung high in artificial food “trees,” as well as hay, carrots, and low-starch, high-fiber biscuits. Giraffes are ruminants and have a stomach with four compartments that digests the leaves they eat. When giraffes aren't eating, they're chewing their cud.

After giraffes swallow the leaves the first time, a ball of leaves travels all the way back up the throat into the mouth for more grinding. Acacia leaves contain a lot of water, so giraffes can go a long time without drinking. When they do get thirsty, giraffes have to bend a long way down to drink from a lake or stream. When they're bent over, it is easier for a predator, like a crocodile, to grab hold of the giraffe. So, giraffes go to a watering hole together and take turns watching for predators. If water is easily available, like in zoos, they can drink 10 gallons (38 liters) a day. FAMILY LIFE When a giraffe baby, called a calf, is born, it comes into the world front feet first, followed by the head, neck, and shoulders. Its entry is like a slow-motion swan dive! Because the umbilical cord is only about 3 feet (1 meter) long, it breaks midway through the birth, allowing the newborn to drop to the ground. The fall and the landing don't hurt the calf, but they do cause it to take a big breath.

The calf can stand up and walk after about an hour, and within a week, it starts to sample vegetation. Sometimes the mother leaves the calf alone for most of the day. The youngster sits quietly until she returns. When a calf gets older, the mother leaves her youngster together with other calves in a "nursery." One of the moms stays to babysit while the others go out to eat and socialize. In the nursery, the calves develop physical and social skills through play. Under the watchful eye of the designated babysitter, the youngsters explore their surroundings throughout the day. The young giraffes can eat leaves at the age of four months, but continue to nurse until they are six to nine months old. AT THE ZOO Giraffes have drawn long looks from San Diego Zoo guests since 1938. Lofty and Patches were the Zoo’s first giraffes, arriving from Africa with much fanfare. Loading their crates off the ship and onto the truck for the long journey from New York to San Diego was quite a production, and upon their arrival here 10 days later, the giraffes refused to leave their traveling crate. Finally, someone offered them onions, and these veggies accomplished what nothing else could do.

To this day, onions serve as a special treat for our giraffes! The Zoo currently has a small herd of Masai giraffes that shares the exhibit in Urban Jungle with the much smaller Nubian Soemmering’s gazelles, adding interest for the animals and our guests. The Zoo has giraffe feeding opportunities. When you visit, be sure to check out the giraffe feeding times! The Safari Park is home to reticulated and Uganda giraffes; they share their field exhibits with a variety of antelope and rhinos, among other species, just as they might in the wild. Six-foot-tall (1.8 meters) feeding stations are ideal for giraffe calves—they can reach the food, but their antelope and rhino neighbors can’t. One of the Safari Park’s keepers says, “Telling the giraffes apart is like cloud watching. The longer you look at them, the more you’ll notice unique shapes in their spot pattern. And that’s how we tell them apart.” As the Safari Park has a large herd of Uganda giraffes (currently 16!), keepers photograph unusual characteristics of each one and keep the photos in a book in their keeper truck for easy reference.

Several years ago, it was suggested that, in their native ranges, many giraffe subspecies had begun to hybridize due to shrinking habitat—including the Uganda and reticulated subspecies, the two types we have at the Safari Park. Although some zoos chose to allow the two subspecies to crossbreed, we decided to keep ours separate. Now, the International Giraffe Group recommends not mixing the two subspecies; as Uganda giraffe populations dwindle, it’s important to preserve their genetic diversity in zoos. CONSERVATION In many African countries, giraffe populations are slowly decreasing because of habitat loss and the overgrazing of resources by livestock. As a result, the future of giraffes is dependent on the quality of the habitat that remains. Their numbers have decreased in the past century, and two giraffe subspecies, the West African or Nigerian giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis peralta and the Uganda or Rothschild’s giraffe G.c. rothschildi are endangered. While it has historically lived in western Kenya, Uganda, and southern Sudan, the Uganda giraffe has been almost totally eliminated from most of its former range and now survives in only a few small, isolated populations in Kenya and Uganda.

The Nigerian giraffe is found in just one area of Nigeria, and it is considered the rarest of the giraffes. The population of reticulated giraffes G.c. reticulata has dropped by an alarming 80 percent in just 10 years, most likely due to poaching. They are no match for humans with guns; giraffes are shot or snared for their meat, hide, bone marrow, and tail hair. The rest of the giraffe species have not become endangered for a number of reasons. Fortunately, Kenya is starting a giraffe conservation program for the three subspecies found there: reticulated, Uganda, and Masai giraffes G.c. tippelskirchi. San Diego Zoo Global supports a community conservation effort in northern Kenya that is finding ways for people and wildlife to live together. At the San Diego Zoo, we have a giraffe-feeding patio where high-fiber biscuits can be purchased and fed to the giraffes. The money raised through the sale of the giraffe biscuits funds the community conservation initiatives we support in Africa. You can help us bring giraffes back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy .

Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe. LIFE SPAN Giraffe Facts & Photos Giraffe Facts & Photos By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | October 28, 2014 10:18pm ET MORE Giraffes tower over Africa's plains. These tall animals are identified by their long necks, equally long and spindly legs, and spotted coats. Most giraffes have a tan, white or yellow coat that is spotted with brown, square shapes. Tallest animal Giraffes are the tallest living animals in the world, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park . A giraffe's neck alone is 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weighs about 600 lbs. (272 kilograms). The animal's legs are also 6 feet long. In full, females grow up to 14 feet (4.3 m) tall and weigh up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg), while males grow up to 18 feet (5.5 m) tall and weigh up to 3,000 lbs. (1,360 kg).

With such a massive body, it makes sense that the giraffes' organs and other body parts are equally huge. Their tongues are a substantial 21 inches (53 centimeters) long, and their feet are 12 inches (30.5 cm) across. According to the San Diego Zoo , a giraffe's heart is 2 feet (0.6 m) long and weighs about 25 lbs. (11 kg). Their lungs can hold 12 gallons (55 liters) of air. In comparison, the average total lung capacity for a human is 1.59 gallons (6 liters). Every giraffe has two hair-covered horns called ossicones. Male giraffes use their horns to playfully fight with one another. They also spar by swinging their heads at one another and entwining their necks, which is called "necking." [ Images: Animals' Dazzling Headgear ] Giraffes have unusually skinny legs for such large animals, but specialized bone structure allows them to support immense weight. Credit: EcoView/Fotolia Where do giraffes live? Giraffes live in savannas throughout Africa.

They like semi-arid, open woodlands that have scattered trees and bushes, making the savannas perfect for these animals. Giraffes are so social that they don't have territories. A group of giraffes is aptly called a tower, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Towers typically have 12 to 15 members and are led by an older male. The other members in the tower are females, their young and young males. Giraffes only sleep around 20 minutes or less per day, according to PBS Nature. Staying awake most of the time allows them to be constantly on alert for predators. They usually get their sleep in quick power naps that last just a couple of minutes. Diet Giraffes are herbivores, which means they eat only plants. Their long necks allow them to reach leaves, buds and branches high up in mimosa and acacia trees. They can eat hundreds of pounds of leaves per week, according to National Geographic . Though these animals eat a lot, giraffes can go without drinking for weeks at a time. They get most of their moisture from the vegetation they eat. The new Rothschild's giraffe calf takes her first steps.

Credit: Belfast Zoo. Offspring As in cattle, female giraffes are called cows, while the males are called bulls. After mating, the cow will have a gestation period of around 14 months. During birth, the calf will drop to the ground, since mother giraffes give birth standing up. The fall can be as far as 5 feet (1.5 m), according to National Geographic. New calves are quite large, at 6 feet tall (1.8 m), 100 to 150 lbs. (45 to 68 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo. They are also agile. At just an hour after birth, they can stand up and walk around. Giraffe mothers often take turns watching over the calves. Sometimes, though, the mother giraffe will leave the calf by itself. When this happens, the infant will lie down and wait for its mother to return. At 3 to 6 years old, calves are fully mature. The animals can live up to 20 years. Classification/taxonomy According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), it is generally accepted that there is one species of giraffe, which has nine subspecies.

However, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) lists only six, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) only recognizes two. Recent genetic analysis indicates some of these subspecies may be separate species, according to the GCF. The taxonomy of giraffes, according to ITIS, is: Kingdom: Animalia Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis (Nubian giraffe) Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa (South African giraffe or cape giraffe) Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata (reticulated giraffe) Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi (Ugandan giraffe or Rothschild's giraffe) Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti (Thornicroft's giraffe) Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi (Masai giraffe) In addition, GCF lists Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis (Angolan giraffe or smokey giraffe), Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum (Kordofan giraffe) and Giraffa camelopardalis peralta (Niger giraffe, Nigerian giraffe or West African giraffe).

Conservation status Giraffes crossing the road, safari, Kenya, East Africa, Ol Pejeta conservancy. Credit: Stock.xchng Giraffes as a whole are not endangered, and are listed as "least concern" by the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species . Although not threatened by extinction, the giraffe population is less than 80,000 and decreasing, but the exact numbers are unclear, according to the Red List. The Nigerian giraffe and Rothschild's giraffe subspecies, however, are listed as endangered. The IUCN says there were fewer than 200 Nigerian giraffe individuals at last count in 2008, although numbers were increasing due to conservation programs. Estimates in 2010 put the population of Rothschild's giraffes at well below 2,500 mature individuals. The IUCN says the subspecies is potentially close to meeting the threshold for being listed as "critically endangered." Giraffe populations are challenged because of poaching and shrinking habitat. The animals' tails are made into good-luck bracelets, fly whisks and thread for stringing beads, according to the African Wildlife Foundation .

As agricultural settlement expands, the giraffe's main source of food, the acacia tree, is being cut down. Other facts Just like human fingerprints and zebra stripes, the coat pattern of a giraffe is unique to that animal. The pattern and the small hump on a giraffe's back are similar to those of a leopard. Years ago, many people thought the giraffe was a combination of a camel and a leopard, and they called these animals "camel-leopards." You will often see giraffes walking around with birds on their backs. These birds are called tickbirds. They eat bugs that live in the giraffe's coat and alert the animals to danger by chirping loudly. Even if you spent a lot of time with giraffes, you would never hear them make a noise. This is because giraffes communicate using noises that are too low for humans to hear, according to PBS Nature. Thanks to their long legs, giraffes are very fast. They can run 35 mph (56 km/h) in short bursts and run for longer stretches at 10 mph (16 km/h), according to National Geographic.

Giraffes are even-toed ungulates, which means they have two weight-bearing hooves on each foot, and are in the order Artiodactyla, which also includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, caribou, moose, hippos and pigs. Additional resources Giraffe - Philadelphia Zoo Giraffe At The Zoo In The Wild Conservation Gus: Male, born July 8, 2006 at Caldwell Zoo in Texas. He arrived at the Zoo on June 12, 2008. Stella: Female, born May 27, 2001 at Cape May County Park Zoo in New Jersey. She arrived at the Zoo on May 21, 2003. Abigail: Female, born July 17, 2010 at the Philadelphia Zoo to Gus and Stella. The keepers call her Abby for short. Where to find me in the Zoo African Plains Fun Facts Although giraffes are usually silent, they can make sounds. They are able to moo, hiss and whistle. A giraffe's heart is 2' long and weights nearly 20 lbs.

Giraffes are fond of acacia leaves, but the trees can fight back. They produce a sweet sap that attracts ants who build nests in the tree. When the giraffe browses on the tree the ants attack - biting hard and driving the giraffe away with nothing more than a few mouthfuls. Ask an Expert Ask an expert on our Docent Council! Giraffes are best known for their long necks and the striking coat patterns of irregular brown patches on a lighter background. Each giraffe has a pattern that is unique to that individual, like a human fingerprint. This may help hide them from predators, particularly when they are young, since the bloches tend to break up their outline when they are among trees. Giraffes are divided into several subspecies depending on their geographic location, color and coat pattern. The number of subspecies is still a topic of debate among scientists and ranges from 6 to 9. The giraffes at the Philadelphia Zoo are reticulated giraffes which are identified by their rich brown, geometric spots on a white background Other subspecies include Masai and Rothschild's.

Giraffe necks have seven vertebrae, the same as humans do, and this amazing adaptation allows them to reach food in tall trees that is not accessible to other browsers. Both sexes have two short, blunt, skin-covered horns atop their heads, although some giraffes can have several more. Males in particular develop additional bumps on the skull as they get older. To increase their reach even more, giraffes have an 18 inch long tongue that they use to grasp and strip leaves from branches. Longevity A typical lifespan for a male giraffe in a zoo is about 13 years. Female giraffes tend to live longer and have a typical lifespan of 17 years. A very few males may live as long as 22 years, and some females can reach 30, but most individuals don’t reach these oldest ages. Lifespan in the wild is similar to that of zoos. Reproduction After a 14 month gestation, a giraffe gives birth to a single calf that can be 6 feet tall (1.8 meters) and 100 to 150 pounds (45 to 68 kilograms).

The mother gives birth while standing up, and the newborn giraffe enters the world with a thud as it falls to the ground headfirst. Although it sounds a bit rough, the fall not only breaks the umbilical cord, it jolts the baby which helps it start to breathe. The calf is on its feet within 15 minutes and will nurse within an hour. Baby giraffes frequently lie down and remain still while the mother leaves it for up to 4 hours. After about a month the calves begin to associate with other calves in groups called creches that the mothers take turns watching over. The young giraffe is typically weaned after 12 months although it may stay near its mother for another year. Behavior Although giraffes are social, they do not form long lasting bonds with other giraffes. Relationships are casual and individuals come and go from a herd without any reaction from the others. They rarely group closely together unless they are browsing from the same tree or are nervous about a predator. There is no leader and little if any coordination of movement - a group of wild giraffes can barely be called a herd.

They do, however, maintain visual contact with other giraffes due to their lofty vantage point, and there is some degree of communication using infrasonic sound. Males tend to associate with other males to form bachelor groups, but as they mature they are increasingly solitary as they move from group to group searching for females. Bull giraffes will fight for the right to mate with a female in a highly ritualistic manner known as necking. They face each other and begin rubbing their heads and necks together as if to judge each others weight and strength. As the fight escalates the bulls swing their heads and necks towards each other trying to land blows that are powerful enough to knock the other male off his feet. One male will typically give up and run away, although serious injuries do sometimes occur. Giraffe spend about half of their day browsing on leaves, although most of their feeding is done in the morning and evening when temperatures are cooler. During the heat of the day they simply stand in the shade and ruminate (chew their cud). Giraffes rarely sleep for more than a few minutes at a time, but do lie down to rest.

Size Giraffes are the tallest land animals, reaching heights of up to 17 feet (5.18 meters) Males are typically taller than females. Weight Males generally weigh roughly 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) while females typically weigh about 1,250 pounds (566 kilograms), but there is wide variation. Diet In the wild, giraffes find most of their food among the tops of trees, eating mostly leaves and shoots from many types of trees, including particularly acacia and combretum trees, as well as flowers, vines and herbs. A giraffe uses its 18-inch long tongue, which is very strong, to strip leaves from tree branches. Here at the Zoo, giraffes are given specially-formulated pellets and alfalfa hay, as well as branches from honey locust and broad-leafed acacia trees. Keepers also give the giraffes apples and carrots as special treats. Geographic Range Africa south of the Sahara, although giraffes have disappeared from most of western Africa, except a residual population in Niger. To learn more about the conservation efforts at the Philadelphia Zoo, click here .

Giraffe: The Animal Files 28 Yrs (In Captivity) Main Characteristics Giraffes are the tallest of all land living animals. They have a body length between 3.8 and 4.7 m (9.75 - 15 ft), a tail length between 78 and 100 cms (31 - 39 inches), a shoulder height between 4 and 4.7 m (13.1 - 15.4 ft) and they weigh between 0.6 and 1.9 tonnes (0.5 - 2 tons). Giraffes have long legs, a sloping back and an extremely long neck. They have a long muzzle, medium sized ears and large eyes. On the top of their head they have bony horns called ossicones, especially the adult males, which makes their total height to the top of their horn tips between 4.7 and 5.3 m (15.4 - 17.4 ft) and for females 3.9 - 4.5 m (12.8 - 14.8 ft).

Their coat is short and sandy coloured with various shaped patches coloured different shades of brown. Their mane is short and it stands upright and they have a dark tassel of hair at the tip of their tail. Giraffes have long, blue/black prehensile tongues which can be extended more than 45 cms (18 inches) and they use them for grasping food. They also have unique 2 or 3 lobed canine teeth which can be used like a comb to strip leaves from branches. The heart of a Giraffe can weigh up to 10 Kgs (22 lbs) and be approximately 61 cms (2 ft) long. It has to generate double the normal blood pressure for an average large mammal in order to maintain blood flow to the brain. In the upper neck Giraffes have a complex pressure regulation system that prevents excess blood flow to the brain when the Giraffe lowers its head to drink. Male Giraffes often engage in a ritual called "necking". This is where they both swing their neck into each other. This can be used as a form of combat or in an affectionate manner. Habitat Giraffes are found in Africa but are becoming increasingly rare in the west.

They live on open grasslands that are scattered with trees. Giraffes live in loose herds of up to 20 individuals which change daily and these herds mainly consist of females and occasionally some younger males. Mature males often live solitary lifestyles roaming around in search of breeding females. A Giraffes home range averages at approximately 160 Kms (99 miles) and males are non-territorial, although a dominance hierarchy is determined by a ritualized fight called "necking". Diet Giraffes feed mainly from acacia and commiphora (myrrh) trees. Because of their height they easily pluck the leaves from the tops of these tall trees. A Giraffe can eat up to 63 Kgs (140 lbs) of leaves and twigs per day. Breeding After a gestation period of approximately 457 days, 1 calf is born (2 calves are rare). Birthing usually occurs in the dry season and the mother generally gives birth standing up. New born calves weigh up to 70 Kgs (155 lbs) and they stand at 1.8 - 2m (5.9 - 6.6 ft) tall.

Within a few hours of being born they can run around, however for the first two weeks they spend most of their time lying down being guarded by their mother. After that they spend the next 4 - 5 months with other calves in nursery groups called creches. This enables the mother to go and forage while the calves rest and socialize. Young Giraffes are weaned at 13 months and they reach sexual maturity between 4 and 5 years of age, although it is unlikely that males will get to mate until the are over 8 years old. Predators Adult Giraffes are too large to be attacked by most predators but the main predators of young Giraffes are lions , leopards , african wild dogs and hyenas. Only 25 - 50% of Giraffe calves reach adulthood, the rest being victims of predators. Subspecies There are 9 generally accepted subspecies of Giraffe. These are: Rothschild's Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothchildi) They are also known as the Baringo Giraffe or the Ugandan Giraffe. They are found in Uganda and north-central Kenya.

They have deep brown, blotched or rectangular spots with poorly defined cream lines and they may have spotted hocks. West African Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) They are also known as the Nigerian Giraffe. They are found in Niger and Cameroon. They have numerous pale yellowish/red spots. Thornicroft Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti) They are also known as the Rhodesian Giraffe. They are found in eastern Zambia. They have star-shaped or leafy spots that extend to their lower leg. Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) They are also known as the Somali Giraffe. They are found in north eastern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. They have large, polygonal liver-coloured spots outlined by a network of bright white lines. The blocks may sometimes appear deep red and may extend over their legs. Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) They are also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffe. They are found in central and southern Kenya and Tanzania.

They have jagged-edged, vine-leaf shaped spots of a dark chololate colour on a yellowish background. Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) They are also known as the Smoky Giraffe. They are found in Angola and Zambia. They have large spots with some notches around the edges and they extend down the entire lower leg. Kordofan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) They are found in western and south western Sudan. They have smaller more irregular shaped spots that cover the inner legs. Nubian Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis) They are found in eastern Sudan and north east Congo. They have large, four-sided spots coloured chestnut brown on an off white background, and they have no spots on their inner legs or below their hocks. South African Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) They are found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. They have rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to their hooves. Interesting Facts Giraffes are the tallest animal in the world.

Giraffes can reach speeds of over 50 Km per hour (31 mph). The closest relative to the Giraffe is the okapi . The neck of the Giraffe is the longest of any animal, yet it still only has 7 cervical vertebrae, as in most other mammals. The Giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which is between 10 minutes and 2 hours in a 24 hour period. Similar Animals What is a female giraffe called? | Reference.com What is a female giraffe called? A: Quick Answer A female giraffe is called a cow. Female Rothschild giraffes are about 15 feet tall, while reticulated giraffe cows grow to about 15 ½ feet. Full Answer Female giraffes give birth standing up 15 to 16 months after mating. Usually only one infant is born, but twins are possible. Mothers bestow a great deal of attention on the infants. After they are about one month old, mothers and calves join a crèche, which is a cooperative care group. Mothers take turns watching calves, so all of the adults have more time to feed.

However, each mother nurses her own calf. After about one year, the mother and her offspring are ready to leave the group.

Question: What is the young of a giraffe called?
Answer: Calf