The giraffe is an African cloven-hoofed mammal, the largest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. It is traditionally considered a single species, the giraffe camelopardalis, which has nine subspecies. However, based on studies of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and morphometric measurements of giraffes, the existence of nine extant giraffe species has been described. The other seven species are extinct prehistoric species known from fossils.
The main features of giraffes are their extremely long necks and legs, horn-like ossicles and distinctive fur patterns. It is classified in the giraffe family with its closest relative, the okapi. Its distribution ranges from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffes usually live in savannas and forests. Their food source is the leaves, fruits, and flowers of woody plants, mainly acacia, and they forage at altitudes that are inaccessible to most other herbivores.
Lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs can prey on giraffes. Giraffes live in groups of related females and their offspring, or in unrelated groups of adult males, but they are sociable and can congregate in large numbers. Males establish social hierarchies through "necks," which are combat encounters in which the neck is used as a weapon. The dominant male has the opportunity to mate with the female, who has full responsibility for raising the young.
It is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and has been removed from many parts of its previous range. Giraffes can still be found in many national parks and wildlife refuges, but as of 2016 there were an estimated 97,500 giraffes in the wild. In 2010, the zoo housed more than 1,600 animals.
Adult giraffes vary in height from 14 feet to 19 feet. They weigh between 1,750 and 2,800 pounds. In general, females are lighter than males, about 2 feet shorter. The front legs of a giraffe are slightly longer than the hind legs. Skin patterns may help disguise them as predators. Some subspecies have patterns shaped like oak leaves. Others have square patterns. Giraffes also have three horn-like ends on their heads that are covered with skin and hair. The nodules, the ossicles, are formed from calcium deposits, according to the San Diego Zoo.
The main food source for giraffes is the acacia tree, which is known for its peculiar spines. Giraffes gnaw at thorns with their tongues that are about 18 inches long. Thick saliva protects the giraffe's digestive system from being stabbed. Sometimes they also eat shrubs, fruits and grasses. A mature giraffe can eat up to 75 pounds of food per day.
A giraffe's best protection from predators is its size, but giraffes are also surprisingly fast, reaching speeds of up to 35 mph. They have powerful kicking abilities that can kill predators such as lions and crocodiles. Giraffes are the most vulnerable in puddles because they have to bend their necks for long periods of time. Giraffes often gather in watering holes in search of predators. Because acacia leaves are rich in water, giraffes can survive without water bills for long periods of time. Giraffes, like other life elements, are able to digest rough plant leaves. There are four compartments in an animal's stomach. Giraffes partially digest plant material and chew it back into their mouths to form ruminants.
Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world, so they need a lot of extra support to pump blood to their heads. Their large heart weighs about 25 pounds. The pump was fast enough to keep their central arterial blood pressure at 250 mmHg (compared to 100 mmHg in humans). Usually this results in 400mmHg of pressure on the foot (in simple terms: severe ankle swelling), but the giraffe has a secret weapon - its feet have extra thick skin and are too close to the body to prevent expansion. Has blood vessels and prevents blood clotting. When they walk, their leg muscles help pump blood back to the rest of the body faster.
