Giraffe Facts for Kids Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis At an average height of around 5 m (16-18 ft.), the giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world. Characterized by its long legs, long neck, and distinctive spotted pattern, many people first believed the giraffe was a cross between a leopard and a camel, which is reflected in its scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis . Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Their extreme height allows them to eat leaves and shoots located much higher than other animals can reach. In particular, they seek out acacia trees. Their long tongues are helpful in eating because they help pull leaves from the trees. Spending most of the day eating, a full-grown giraffe consumes over 45 kg (100 lb.) of leaves and twigs a day. The male giraffe is both taller and heavier than the female. Both sexes have skin-covered knobs, called ossicones, on the top of their heads. Female ossicones are smaller and have a small tuft of fur on top, while male ossicones are bald on the top.

These knobs are used to protect the head when males fight, which involves swinging their necks at each other in a show of strength called “necking.” When giraffes walk, they move both legs on one side of their body and then both legs on the other side; this is unique to giraffes. However, they run in a similar style to other mammals, swinging their rear legs and front legs in unison. They can reach 55 km/h (35 mph) at full speed but only in brief spurts. Giraffes sleep less than two hours a day. In general, they sleep with their feet tucked under them and their head resting on their hindquarters, but they can also sleep for short periods of time standing up. Female giraffes can become pregnant at 5 years old. They carry a baby for 15 months and give birth while standing up. Newborns are about 2 m (6 ft.) tall and weigh 70 kg (150 lb.). They live up to 25 years in the wild. Conservation Status Giraffes are classified by IUCN’s Red List as vulnerable of extinction.

After researchers surveyed the population in trucks, by foot, by aircraft, and by remote cameras, they confirmed the number of giraffes has plummeted 40% since 1985. With some subspecies, such as the reticulated giraffe, the situation is even more dire, with their population declining by nearly 80%. Giraffes face several threats, including loss of habitat due to logging for firewood. They are also hunted for their meat, hides, and tails, which are valued by many African tribes. What You Can Do to Help To help preserve giraffe populations, boycott products made with giraffe body parts and encourage others to do the same. Giraffe Distribution Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Giraffe Resources 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 FAQs - GiraffeConservation.org FAQs Frequently asked questions about giraffe Some of your most frequently asked questions are answered below. Are there different types of giraffe? Recent research by GCF and partners has shown that there are four different species of giraffe and not only as as previously assumed. Two of these species have two and three distinct subspecies respectively. All species and their subspecies live in geographically distinct areas throughout Africa and while some of these have been reported to cross-bread in zoos, there is no evidence that this occurs regularly in the wild. These recent findings are based on a long-term effort, spearheaded by GCF in collaboration with BiK-F Senckenberg Museum , Frankfurt, Germany and partners, to unravel the mystery of giraffe genetics.

GCF and partners collected almost 200 DNA samples from most major giraffe populations across Africa. These new finding will inform the future of giraffe conservation throughout Africa. How many giraffe are there and are they endangered? Three decades ago, in the 1980s, the total number of all giraffe in Africa was estimated at approximately 155,000 individuals. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group and GCF estimate the current Africa-wide giraffe population to be less than 100,000 individuals. This is a drop of almost 40%. In some areas traditionally regarded as prime giraffe real estate, numbers have dropped by more than 95%. Read more about giraffe numbers here. Giraffe numbers have dropped significantly during recent years and giraffe are under a lot of pressure. IUCN SSC Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group in collaboration with GCF has recently submitted updated assessments of giraffe numbers to the IUCN Red List – so stay tuned. With the exception of Angolan, South and West African giraffe, all other subspecies are either decreasing or unstable.

Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, habitat degradation, poaching, and ultimately human population growth continue to impact on giraffe and their habitat across the continent. While recent research has shown that there are in fact four giraffe species and not only one, the IUCN currently still recognises giraffe as one species. It is hoped that this updated information will soon be taken into consideration by the IUCN for future conservation assessments. In December 2016 giraffe (as a single species) were uplisted to ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Two subspecies are currently listed as ‘Endangered’. IUCN Red List Evolution, taxonomy and scientific classification Evolution At about 3 metres tall, an antelope-like animal, which roamed the plains and forests of Asia and Europe between the Eocene and Oligocene epochs (specifically 30-50 million years ago), was the forefather of the two remaining members of the Giraffidae family: the modern day giraffe and okapi.

In countries ranging from Japan, China and Mongolia, through India and Iran and into Greece and Austria, as well as Africa, more than 10 fossil genera have been discovered telling us that by the Miocene epoch (6-23 million years ago) early deer-like giraffids were yet to develop the long neck synonymous with today’s giraffe. They were, however, already tall animals and their heads were adorned with large ossicones (horns made of ossified cartilage, covered in skin or fur), which later began to evolve into the more familiar unbranched ossicones of the modern day giraffids. The end of the Pliocene epoch (2.5-6 million years ago) saw a number of long necked giraffids evolve, but largely unsuccessfully with only two species surviving to this day. Taxonomy What are the closest relatives of giraffe? The only close relative of the giraffe is the okapi (Okapia johnstoni). The okapi has a similar body shape as a giraffe, however, with a much shorter neck relative to its body size.

Okapis share other distinctive features with giraffe including unusual fur covered ossicones (horn-like structure), specialised teeth and tongue, and a ruminating four-chambered stomach. Interestingly, only the male okapi has ossicones. The rare okapi is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN RedList and is endemic to the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The primary strongholds of okapi include the Ituri/Aruwimi and adjacent Nepoko basin forests, and the forests of the upper Lindi, Maiko and Tshobo Basins; the species is also known to occur in the Rubi-Tele region in Bas Uele. Living in these dark, dense tropical forests the okapi has relatively poor vision but sharp hearing and a good sense of smell. It is extremely wary and will disappear into thick cover at the first hint of danger. Probably for this reason it was only discovered in 1901. There is no reliable estimate of current population size, but numbers are estimate at between 10,000 and 20,000 individuals. Numbers are assumed to be declining and okapi are under considerable threat due to increased logging and human settlements.

It has been nicknamed the ‘rainforest zebra’ (or ‘forest giraffe’) because of the black and white stripes on its buttocks and upper legs. The stripes on the rump probably act as a ‘follow me’ signal and allow a young okapi to keep track of its mother. Both images provided by Zoological Society of London. How long do giraffe live? We don’t really know how long giraffe live in the wild as there is no recorded evidence. We believe that both male (bulls) and female (cows) giraffe can live to about 25 years in the wild and even longer in captivity. In our long-term conservation project in northwest Namibia we now know that some giraffe that were first identified as sub-adults in 2000, are still alive today – making them some of the oldest recorded giraffe in the wild. However, even the world’s tallest animal has enemies. Giraffe mortality rates vary from region to region dependent on density of natural predators. Even adult male giraffe are predated by lions, while sub-adults and calves are particularly vulnerable and can also be taken by hyena, leopard, wild dog and crocodile.

As an example, the infant mortality rate in the Serengeti (Masai giraffe – G. c. tippelskirchi) for one month old giraffe calves is over 20% while approximately half of the calves do not survive their first 6 months. This figure reaches nearly 60% by the end of the first year in the Serengeti, dropping to 8% in the second year and just 3% in the third. Once mature, the defensive kick of an adult giraffe is enough to seriously damage even the most determined predator, and many a lion has succumbed to the fierceness of their dinner plate size hooves. Do giraffe drink? If given the chance – yes! Where water is readily available giraffe will often drink, sometimes daily, with splayed forelegs and/or bent knees to enable their long neck to reach down to the water. However, in the deserts of northwest Namibia and other arid environments, giraffe absorb the majority of their moisture from condensation (and coastal fog) that gathers and is absorbed from the leaves during the much cooler nights and early mornings, or from coastal fog that covers part of the desert on two out of three nights.

How much do giraffe eat in a day? What does their diet consist of? Giraffe are browsers and mainly eat leaves and buds on trees and shrubs. They will also eat herbs, climbers and vines, and prefer flowers and fruit when in season. The proportion of grass in their diet is very low. Acacia leaves and shoots form the bulk of a giraffe’s diet in most areas. Giraffe use their extremely dexterous and long tongue as well as the ridged roof of their mouth to help feed on a variety of leaves and shoots – all dependent on the plants defenses! Evidence shows that giraffe adapt their diet to the food species available in the specific region they live in, as well as adapting intake depending on seasons and plant growth stage; for example in some parts of Southern and Eastern Africa, giraffe often feed on deciduous trees, shrubs and vines during the wet season, and on evergreen species, near streams and rivers, during the dry season. Males are capable of feeding on vegetation at higher levels than females, although both can stretch their head and neck near vertical to access preferred forage.

Scientists have found that the diet of adult females is nutritionally richer than that of males who consume significantly higher proportions of fibre and lignin. Giraffe appear sensitive to their own nutritional needs. For example, in Niger nursing females seem to avoid high levels of tannins in leaves even though it means giving up higher quality forage. Regardless of their size, giraffe are not as destructive as elephant when feeding, indeed one researcher in the Serengeti, Tanzania, demonstrated that when giraffe are not too numerous, their impact can actually stimulate shoot production in Acacia species, which soon declined when the browsing stimulus was withdrawn. There are, however, also some natural plant protection methods at work which ensure over-browsing does not happen. For example carnivorous ants that are symbiotic with some Acacia species reduce the amount of time that giraffe can spend browsing on any one plant. On a positive mutual note, giraffe can actively benefit some of their food sources. Acacia seed consumption by giraffe favours seed dispersal into non-shaded habitats and enhances the potential for seed germination through the beneficial effects of its digestive processes. Giraffe are also thought to play a role in pollination.

Feeding takes up most of a giraffe’s day – up to 75% at certain times of the year. Time spent browsing often increases markedly during the dry season compared with the wet season as good quality browsing is harder to find and giraffe often have to travel further to satisfy their nutritional needs. Giraffe are also active at night, but it is believed that they feed significantly more during moonlit nights and ruminate more during dark nights. Do all giraffe have horns? Giraffe ‘horns’ are not actually called horns but ‘ossicones’ and both female and male giraffe have them. Ossicones are formed from ossified cartilage and are covered in skin. Giraffe are born with their ossicones, however, they lie flat and are not attached to the skull to avoid injury at birth. They only fuse with the skull later in life. Both female and male giraffe have a main pair of ossicones. While the females’ are often thin and tufted, male giraffe normally have thicker ossicones that become bald on top as a result of frequent necking.

In some subspecies males grow a second pair of ossicones behind the first pair, as well as prominent ossicone in front of the main pair. Ossifications on the head of male giraffe add weight, which often increases with age enabling them to deliver ever heavier blows during necking contests. Fatal combat is rare but does occur. Why do giraffe have spots? Giraffe’s patches (spots) are first and foremost for camouflage. But underneath each patch lies a very sophisticated system of blood vessels. Around each patch there is a quite large blood vessel that then branches off into smaller vessels underneath the patch: A giraffe can send blood through these small branches into the middle of the patch in order to release heat through this system. Each patch acts as a thermal window to release body heat. The left image below shows the patches of a giraffe and the one on the right shows the intensity of heat radiation. You can see that the patch pattern corresponds directly with the heat radiation patter on the body of the giraffe. (Images from BBC 4 “Inside Nature’s Giants – Giraffe”) How long is a giraffe's tongue? What colour is it?

Giraffe use their 45-50 cm long prehensile tongue and the roof of their mouths in order to feed on a range of different plants and shoots, most notably from Acacia species. Africa’s Acacia species have developed fierce defensive thorns, requiring giraffe to use their dexterous tongues to sort out the nutritious leaves from spiky thorns. Fortunately, a giraffe’s tongue has thickened papillae, which helps to protect it from these vicious thorns. Additionally, thick saliva is also believed to help protect giraffe’s tongue and mouth against the defensive mechanisms of their favourite food. The colour of the tongue is best described as black, blue or purple with a pink base/back (see photo below). It is generally assumed that the front part of the tongue has such dark coloration to protect it during frequent sun exposure while eating and prevent the tongue from getting sunburned, however, no one really knows. Do giraffe lie down? Giraffe normally rest while standing up, but sometimes they can be observed lying down. When lying down, they fold their legs under their body, but mostly keeping their necks held high.

Giraffe have been known to continue browsing and ruminating in this resting position. Occasionally, and only for very short periods of no more than 5 minutes, giraffe can sleep with their head resting back on their rump. This is an extremely exposed and vulnerable position, hence the brevity and rarity. Research in zoos has shown that giraffe go into REM sleep when in this position. West African Giraffe nc Track: 190mm (7") x 150mm (6") The West African giraffe's distribution: south eastern Mali, south western Niger, southern Chad, southern Sudan, northern CAR, northern DRC, northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Description: Giraffes are long-necked browsing animals that taxonomists place in a separate family, Giraffidae, from other artiodactylids: camels, deer and bovines. Possessing only seven cervical vertebrae (like other mammals), giraffes, at almost 19 feet, are the tallest of all mammals. Adult males weigh as much as 4,000 lbs. They are characterized by having two knobs, called ossicones, on their head.

Some individuals may have additional bumps on the sides of their skulls that are irregularly located. Unlike antlers on deer or horns on bovids, ossicones are permanently covered by hair and never shed. After a gestation of 15 months, females give birth to a single young; twins occur rarely. Adults are not territorial but rather feed over a large "roaming" area. When alarmed, giraffes can reach speeds of 30 to 36 miles per hour. Unlike most mammals giraffes walk using both legs from the same side of the body simultaneously. When they gallop they move both fore legs and both hind legs together, and because of its long stride is faster than it appears. Female's horns are thin and tufted; male's are thick and bald on top, their horns can be up to 5 inches long. The color varies from brown to a rich chestnut (old males are darker, even black). Although usually quiet, giraffes are not voiceless as the common myth leads us to believe, but instead can produce snorting or moaning noises, particularly when there is danger. They have a good sense of smell, hearing and excellent vision enabling them to see miles away.

Habitat : Giraffes roam over large areas of bush and savannah areas, living often in semi-desert regions where they get most of their water from their food. Like camels, they are able to go long periods of time without a drink and usually drink every 2-3 days. To get a drink they have to splay their forelegs to reach the water. The same is true of the okapi, disproving the idea that the giraffe's extra long neck and legs are the reason they must drink this way. Diet : Giraffes are browsing ungulates, feeding almost exclusively on the new shoots of shrubs and trees. Acacia trees are by far their favourite food source, the leaves being stripped from their thorny branches with the assistance of the giraffe’s long prehensile tongue and lips. Social Organization: Giraffes are sociable, tolerant animals living in small groups to large herds or coalitions of familiar cows and calves which number from 12 to 15 animals. Although gregarious, group structure is constantly changing to some degree due to individuals’ overlapping home ranges. Including a surrounding "buffer zone", female home ranges may be as large as 46 sq. miles.

Home ranges of adult bulls are smaller. There is no apparent dominance among females but adult males display absolute hierarchy within their home ranges. Interesting Facts: Giraffes have the same number of bones in their neck as humans do. Baby giraffes are about 6 feet tall when they are born. They are one of the few animals born with horns. The Okapi is a close relative of the giraffe making up the Giraffidae family. They only sleep for a few minutes at a time. Their heart weighs approximately 24 pounds. Giraffes are the tallest animals on earth. You would have to run in order to keep up with a giraffe walking because every step a giraffe takes is 15 feet long. A giraffe's neck can be 78 inches long. The giraffes' biggest enemy is the lion. Each time a giraffe picks up its neck it picks up 550 pounds! A giraffe is one of the few animals that uses mostly its front legs when it runs.

Giraffe have 4 stomachs just like cows (their cud needs to travel all the way up their neck!) Giraffe | National Geographic Giraffe About the Giraffe Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances. Behavior Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen. Bulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. Such contests aren't usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away. Size Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch (53-centimeter) tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches.

Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. The giraffe's height also helps it to keep a sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the African savanna. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth. Giraffes have beautiful spotted coats. While no two individuals have exactly the same pattern, giraffes from the same area appear similar. © 1996-2016 National Geographic Society.

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 What Is the Little Part on a Giraffe's Head? | Animals - mom.me What Is the Little Part on a Giraffe's Head? Females and young giraffes have tufty hair on their ossicones. Anup Shah/Photodisc/Getty Images Well-known for their showy necks, giraffes have little knobs and bumps on their heads that are made of bone. These horn-like structures are called ossicones. While all giraffes have them, they aren't all the same; some species have more than two or have bumps in the center of their faces in addition to the "horns." What They Are Ossicones are about 5 inches long on most adult giraffes. They start out as stiff cartilage which goes through an ossification process as the giraffe ages. This turns the cartilage into bone and fuses it to the giraffe's skull. The ossicones are covered by skin and hair, just like the rest of the giraffe's head. How They Grow When a giraffe is born, he has little bumps on his head that will eventually become his ossicones.

These bumps are full of cartilage that isn't attached to his skull. The bumps start to grow and ossify, beginning at the tip and hardening down toward the base of the horns. By the time females are about 4 years old and males are 7, their horns are fully grown, turned into bone and firmly attached. Other Bumps Horns are the most common type of ossicone, but some giraffes develop other bony growths on their faces. These are knobby; they are shorter in height than the horns, but often longer and more irregular in shape. These knobs also start as cartilage and harden into bone. In males, these knobs are usually larger than in females, sometimes looking like another horn. In addition to knobs, males sometimes develop a nearly solid layer of cartilage that ossifies as they mature, making their heads heavier than those of females. Hair All giraffes have skin and hair on their ossicones, but it's usually only the females who keep the hair. Ossicones develop tufts of hair on the ends that stand up, and are visible on females and young male giraffes.

As the males mature, they use their heads and necks as weapons to earn female affection, swinging their heads powerfully into the necks of other male giraffes and butting heads. All this fighting action tends to wear the hair tufts off the ossicones of male giraffes.

Question: Where are the ossicones situated on the body of a giraffe?
Answer: Head