Walking is done by moving the legs on one side of the body at the same time, then doing the same on the other side. The giraffe's pelvis, though relatively short, has an ilium that is outspread at the upper ends. [51], Individual captive giraffes were given celebrity status throughout history. [50]:48–49 The giraffe was also known to the Greeks and Romans, who believed that it was an unnatural hybrid of a camel and a leopard or a panther and called it camelopardalis. The West African subspecies of the northern giraffe is reduced to a small range in Niger.

Gestation is 15 months, and, though most calves are born in dry months in some areas, births can take place in any month of the year. They were depicted in art throughout the African continent, including that of the Kiffians, Egyptians, and Kushites. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. By the 2010s mitochondrial DNA studies had determined that genetic uniquenesses brought on by the reproductive isolation of one group from another were significant enough to separate giraffes into four distinct species. [50]:34 The fur may serve as a chemical defence, as its parasite repellents give the animal a characteristic scent. As such, the wall of the heart can be as thick as 7.5 cm (3.0 in). [10], Bohlinia entered China and northern India in response to climate change. Giraffes are a common sight in grasslands and open woodlands in East Africa, where they can be seen in reserves such as Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. These side-to-side clashes of heads cause mild damage, and bone deposits subsequently form around the horns, eyes, and back of the head; a single lump projects from between the eyes. The giraffe (Giraffa) is an African artiodactyl mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Each cervical vertebra is over 28 cm (11 in) long. This animal was medium-sized, slender and antelope-like. [30], Aerial survey is the most common method of monitoring giraffe population trends in the vast roadless tracts of African landscapes, but aerial methods are known to undercount giraffes. [53], The skin of a giraffe is mostly gray,[48] or tan. [84] Traditionally, the composition of these groups had been described as open and ever-changing.
[37]:322 The Angolan giraffe can be found in desert environments.

The study deduced from genetic differences in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that giraffes from these populations are reproductively isolated and rarely interbreed, though no natural obstacles block their mutual access. [10] They also feed on shrubs, grass and fruit. Great for teaching about height and measurements. Bulls eight years and older travel up to 20 km per day looking for cows in heat (estrus). Calves sample vegetation at three weeks but suckle for 18–22 months. Necking is used to establish dominance and males that win necking bouts have greater reproductive success. The two species are equally distantly related to cattle, suggesting the giraffe's unique characteristics are not because of faster evolution. Sophie the Giraffe has been a popular teether since 1961. [7] Their meat was used for food. [42] Also, a median lump, which is more prominent in males, emerges at the front of the skull. Select an item on the right to compare relative dimensions to Giraffe.

There are only seven neck (cervical) vertebrae, but they are elongated. Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals; males (bulls) may exceed 5.5 metres (18 feet) in height, and the tallest females (cows) are about 4.5 metres. Living giraffes appear to have arisen around 1 mya in eastern Africa during the Pleistocene. Giraffes are not classified as an endangered species. [55] Along the animal's neck is a mane made of short, erect hairs. Cows in particular select high-energy low-fibre items. [10] G. jumae was larger and more heavily built while G. gracilis was smaller and more lightly built. When courting, dominant males will keep subordinate ones at bay. [49]:78 They have four chambered stomachs, as in all ruminants, and the first chamber has adapted to their specialized diet. [89][84], Giraffe groups tend to be sex-segregated[89] although mixed-sex groups made of adult females and young males are known to occur. [45][46][50]:29[64] The long neck results from a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, not from the addition of more vertebrae. The radius and ulna of the front legs are articulated by the carpus, which, while structurally equivalent to the human wrist, functions as a knee. The birth of a giraffe at the Greenville Zoo, South Carolina, 2012; the video also shows the calf's first steps.

Giraffes live up to 26 years in the wild and slightly longer in captivity. [11] One early giraffid ancestor was Canthumeryx which has been dated variously to have lived 25–20 million years ago (mya), 17–15 mya or 18–14.3 mya and whose deposits have been found in Libya.

Also, there are 220 species of even-toed ungulates while there are 17 species of odd-toed ungulates. [56] The "competing browsers hypothesis" was originally suggested by Charles Darwin and challenged only recently. Some are also found in the reserves of Southern Africa. The tongue and inside of the mouth are coated with tough tissue as protection. [42] Giraffe calves inherit some coat pattern traits from their mothers, and variation in some spot traits are correlated with neonatal survival.

Comparisons between giraffes and their ancient relatives suggest that vertebrae close to the skull lengthened earlier, followed by lengthening of vertebrae further down.
[118], The giraffe has also been used for some scientific experiments and discoveries. [123] In 1997, Jonathan Kingdon suggested that the Nubian giraffe was the most threatened of all giraffes;[4] as of 2018[update], it may number about 450 individuals. The genus Giraffa is made up of the northern giraffe (G. camelopardalis), the southern giraffe (G. giraffa), the Masai giraffe (G. tippelskirchi), and the reticulated giraffe (G. reticulata). Rumination is the dominant activity during the night, when it is mostly done lying down. In the 13th century, East Africa supplied a trade in hides. There are also seven extinct species of giraffe, listed as the following: G. attica, also extinct, was formerly considered part of Giraffa but was reclassified as Bohlinia attica in 1929. [37]:325, During the wet season, food is abundant and giraffes are more spread out, while during the dry season, they gather around the remaining evergreen trees and bushes. [108][109][110], Humans have interacted with giraffes for millennia. The first one in Rome was brought in by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and exhibited to the public. 3DM, OBJ, SKP formats, Dimensions is a project by Fantastic Offense. [22] A 2007 study on the genetics of giraffes, suggested they were six species: the West African, Rothschild's, reticulated, Masai, Angolan, and South African giraffe. [101] Giraffes are the most common food source for the big cats in Kruger National Park, comprising nearly a third of the meat consumed, although only a small portion of the giraffes were probably killed by predators, as a majority of the consumed giraffes appeared to be scavenged. The giraffe, having a short body and great height, could not adopt the…. What are the shared characteristics of even-toed ungulates? The divergence of giraffe and okapi lineages dates to around 11.5 mya. Giraffe, (genus Giraffa), any of four species in the genus Giraffa of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, with long legs and a coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a light background. The giraffe's chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones, and its distinctive coat patterns. A sensation, the giraffe was the subject of numerous memorabilia or "giraffanalia". [123] Private game reserves have contributed to the preservation of giraffe populations in southern Africa. [37]:329 To lie down, the animal kneels on its front legs and then lowers the rest of its body. [49]:71 They comprise 52–54 per cent of the length of the giraffe's vertebral column, compared with the 27–33 percent typical of similar large ungulates, including the giraffe's closest living relative, the okapi.

The power of a blow depends on the weight of the skull and the arc of the swing. Only one percent of same-sex mounting incidents occurred between females. [51] A giraffe's skull is lightened by multiple sinuses. The giraffe's elongated neck accounts for much of the vertical height. [132][133] As of 2010[update], there were more than 1,600 in captivity at Species360-registered zoos (not including non-Species360 zoos or any kept by private people). Feeding is at its highest during the first and last hours of daytime.

The typical Giraffe has an overall height of 18’-20’ (5.5-6.0 m) and body length of 7.5’-8.5' (2.2-2.6 m). An average Giraffe weighs between 1,750-2,800 lb (795-1,270 kg) and has a typical lifespan of 25 years. That study also found that multi species coalescent methods can lead to taxonomic over-splitting, as those methods delimit geographic structure rather than species. [37] Different parts of their bodies were used for different purposes. [95] Males must wait until they are at least seven years old to gain the opportunity to mate. This resource features a lovely safari themed height chart with a very, very tall giraffe! Dali considered the giraffe to be a symbol of masculinity, and a flaming giraffe was meant to be a "masculine cosmic apocalyptic monster". [134], Angolan giraffes courting (above) and mating in, Swainson 1835. Giraffes, the world’s tallest mammals, are known for their long necks and legs, ossicone horns, and distinct spotted coat patterns. [21] Its presence in South Sudan is uncertain.

[50]:27, The giraffe's prehensile tongue is about 45 cm (18 in) long. [49]:76 A gallbladder is generally present during fetal life, but it may disappear before birth. [50]:54 During the Middle Ages, giraffes were known to Europeans through contact with the Arabs, who revered the giraffe for its peculiar appearance. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

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