A giraffe's neck alone is 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weighs about 600 lbs. Giraffes seem like relatively clumsy creatures, thanks to their cumbersome-looking limbs and top-heaviness. Facts About Giraffes Heart. 3. Their bobbing walk, where both legs on one side are lifted in unison, looks positively relaxed. Each adult giraffe weighs about 1,700 pounds and needs as much as 75 pounds of plants each day. This allows it to clean its ears with its tongue. Fun Facts about Giraffes. A giraffe's neck alone is 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weighs about 600 lbs. Interesting facts about giraffes include… One of the most recognized features of the giraffe is its long neck. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. Studies show that giraffe cows stay with the same group at least as long as six years. Their long legs and necks help them to eat leaves at the top of tall trees that other animals cannot reach. There are also isolates, male bulls who live alone. There are nine subspecies of giraffe. Here are some other fun bits of giraffe information for kids: Giraffes have been living on this planet for more than thirty million years. Facts about Giraffe: 11-15. They have long tongues, and no teeth at the front of their top jaw, which helps them to rip leaves from branches. Giraffe are the tallest creatures in the world. The tongue has a thick tough layer that protects it from being cut by thorns. Facts about Giraffes. The tallest recorded male was 5.88 m (19.3 ft) and the tallest recorded female was 5.17 m, they have seven vertebrae in their necks, the same as most mammals but the axis joint is modified to allow the head to lift to a 180 degree angle. – Heavier (973-1395 kg). Giraffe guide: species facts, lifespan and habitat. The 11 facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. (1,360 kg). 2. READ MORE: Animals in Kenya (A Guide to 40 Species) The gestation period for giraffes is approximately 15 months. Herds have a home range that averages about 100 square miles, and the herds intersect, sharing one another's ranges without a social issue. Learn all about these impressively tall mammals, including key species facts, their diet and best places to see them in their natural habitat in our expert giraffe guide. Giraffes consume over 35 kilos of food per day. Take a look below for 25 more interesting and weird facts about giraffes. 1. Giraffes can be found across the African Savannah where they primarily feast on the leaves of Acacia trees. Wild giraffe are sadly declining, mainly due to habitat loss caused by increasing agriculture.People still poach them for their tail hair, pelts and meat. 10 Fun Facts About Giraffe . 2. 10 interesting facts about giraffes. With over one million people watching the live stream of April the giraffe giving birth and Earth Day right around the corner, I thought it appropriate to share some facts about giraffes you might not know. Giraffe are currently the tallest terrestrial mammal and largest ruminant alive, well known for their long necks giraffe can grow to 5.5 m tall. Giraffe facts! You would think that this means they have much more neck bones than humans do… right? 13. 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. Their legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet. Herds forage together. They are an endangered species. Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. Giraffes grow about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in their first year of life. Giraffe guide: species facts, lifespan and habitat. Uniquely patterned gentle giants, giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. In reality, humans and giraffes have the same number of nec… The main plant varies between members of the Acacia tree; giraffes are the only predator for acacia trees over 10 feet tall. Facts about Giraffes 1. Although giraffes are very tall, they don’t sleep much. Their babies are usually 6 ft long and weigh around 70 kg. New-born giraffes stand at around 6 feet tall, making them taller than most adult humans. A truly a unique species, giraffes are found only in sub-Saharan Africa and can reach unbelievable heights. A giraffe's neck weighs about 270 kilograms (600 pounds) and is about 1.8 meters (6 feet) long, and its legs are as long as its neck. 1. Giraffes are the tallest mammal in the world. Giraffes are the tallest land animals on earth thanks in part to their distinctive necks which alone can reach almost 2 meters in height. 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 are very social animals and tend to travel in small groups known as towers. Giraffes are ruminants, mammals equipped with specialized stomachs that "pre-digest" their food; they're constantly chewing their "cud," a mass of semi-digested food ejected from their stomach and in need of further breakdown. Newborns are about 2 m (6 ft.) tall and weigh 70 kg (150 lb. Saving Kordofan giraffe in Chad April 9, 2019 Twiga Tracker – Using modern technology to save giraffe and their habitat April 26, 2018 GCF Update – February 2017 February 8, 2017 Giraffes are weaned at 15–18 months, although some suckle up to 22 months of age. (272 kilograms). How many vertebrae are in that long neck? These unusual looking creatures have long necks and eat from the tops of trees. One of our favourite fun facts about giraffes is that they are beautiful pollinators to many plant species. 1. However, the skin is a blessing as well, it is one of the best camouflages, it blends so well with the African soil, confusing the potential predators. Naturalists have recognized nine separate subspecies: the Nubian giraffe, the reticulated giraffe, the Angolan giraffe, the Kordofan giraffe, the Masai giraffe, the South African giraffe, the West African giraffe, the Rhodesian giraffe, and Rothschild's giraffe. After you learn something, Do Something! Multi-Locus Analyses Reveal Four Giraffe Species Instead of One, Giraffe Demography and Population Ecology, Giraffa camelopardalis (amended version of 2016 assessment). – Darker skin as the individual matures. Once a giraffe reaches adulthood its height is often enough to protect it from lions. Their long legs and necks help them to eat leaves at the top of tall trees that other animals cannot reach. Size. Are There Different Types of Giraffes? But looks can be deceptive. Like camels, they don't need to drink on a daily basis. Even though they’re tall, they don’t sleep a lot. 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. Fun Giraffe Facts and Photos. by Sonja Faul April 21, 2017. written by Sonja Faul. These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles an hour over longer distances. Giraffes are able to … In some countries in southern Africa, hunting giraffes is legal, especially where populations are increasing. Interesting facts about giraffes include… One of the most recognized features of the giraffe is its long neck. Over short distances, giraffes can run at speeds up to 35 mph. Facts about Giraffe: 16-20. - Source 2. An old giraffe will have darker spots than the younger one. Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are quadrupeds, four-legged hooved mammals who roam the savannas and woodlands of Africa. Granted, very few animals (other than humans) tend to linger in the act of mating, but at least giraffes have a good reason to rush. These gentle giants are the world’s tallest living land animals. WATCH: These Rare Giraffes Were Killed Just for Their Tails, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/giraffe.html. Here are some interesting facts about giraffes! Giraffes are classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), because of ongoing habitat loss (deforestation, land use conversion, expansion of agriculture and human population growth), civil unrest (ethnic violence, rebel militias, paramilitary and military operations), illegal hunting (poaching), and ecological changes (climate change, mining activity). Facts about Giraffes 1. You know they're tall—the tallest mammals in the world, in fact—but here are 20 other fun facts about these leggy herbivores. Young bachelor males who are old enough to fend for themselves form temporary herds of between 10 and 20, essentially training camps in which they play and challenge each other before leaving the group to become isolates. Newborns are about 2 m (6 ft.) tall and weigh 70 kg (150 lb.). Giraffes are incredibly unique in a number of different characteristics as well as their record-breaking stature. Giraffes have teeth! Their long necks, regal stance, and beautiful features make them seem almost surreal, despite the fact that they roam the African plains with very real danger all around them. 18. Fun Facts about Giraffes Summary. Find out more about their habitat and other fun giraffe facts. Giraffes are classified by IUCN’s Red List as vulnerable of extinction. The giraffe's skull has an upper and lower jaw filled with teeth and molars that facilitate the grinding of food. Giraffes are incredibly unique in a number of different characteristics as well as their record-breaking stature. in diameter. They even ogled a Chinese emperor during the 1400s. However, an insufficiently wary giraffe can easily be ambushed at a water hole, since it has to adopt an ungainly posture when taking a drink. Tallest giraffes have recorded heights up to 5.9 m. Such a large animal weighs 800- 1900 kg- which is quite heavy in itself. Giraffes love the Acacia Tree and most of all its leaves. The 21-inch tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Other interesting facts about giraffes. Giraffe Facts Some of your most frequently asked questions answered. Male: An old male. Even newborn giraffes stand at about 6 feet tall, making them taller than most adult humans. Evolution gives us another one of our giraffe facts: giraffes have extremely long tongues. 2) Well known for their long necks, these gentle giants are the world’s tallest living land animals. Giraffes subsist on a variable vegetarian diet that includes leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits. of leaves and twigs daily. Behind their beautiful appearance with a unique fur, long neck, and unparallel tallness, some peculiarities define them as unique animals in the world. Giraffe Facts: 10 Fun Facts about Giraffes. Just how tall is a giraffe and how do they drink? Most giraffes … 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). Giraffes Are as Tall as a 2-Story House; Giraffes Necks Grew Over Time … Over Millions Of Years Now, here are 14 facts about giraffes you will find interesting and fun: 1. Male giraffes do a lot of weird stuff you know, well, to test if a female is fertile, they test her urine. ", African Lion Facts: Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Social Networks, Long-Term Associations and Age-Related Sociability of Wild Giraffes. When fully grown, male giraffes can attain a height of almost 20 feet—most of that, of course, taken up by this mammal's elongated neck—and weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds. Bulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. The male giraffe is generally heavier and taller than the female giraffe. Nile crocodiles have been known to chomp on the necks of full-grown giraffes, drag them into the water, and feast at leisure on their copious carcasses. See more ideas about Fun facts about giraffes, Giraffe, Giraffes cant dance. During copulation, male giraffes stand almost straight up on their hind legs, resting their front legs along the female's flanks, an awkward posture that would be unsustainable for more than a few minutes. An average adult uses most of its time eating and could eat over 45 kg (100 lb.) Giraffes have the biggest heart on earth, weighing around 11 Kilogram and 2 feet Long, pumping blood of 60 litres a minute around the gigantic body with a pressure twice as human beings. They have a diverse diet which can include as much as 93 different species of plants; but typically, only about a half dozen of those plants make up 75 percent of their summer diets. Aug 31, 2020 - Explore Gina Walters's board "Giraffe facts", followed by 219 people on Pinterest. Male giraffes do a lot of weird stuff you know, well, to test if a female is fertile, they test her urine. The animal's legs are also 6 feet long.Females grow up to 14 feet (4.3 m) tall and weigh up to 1,500 lbs. In fact, giraffes have 4 stomachs, the extra stomachs assisting with digesting food. That makes the giraffe the tallest living animal on earth. During the wet seasons, food is more plenty than in the dry season. Facts about Giraffes Giraffes are complex animals that possess many impressive features. Long-Necked – Much of these creatures’ height comes from their lengthy necks, which can measure well over 6 feet long alone! – Larger and longer horns on the head (up to 5”/13 cm). 1) Giraffes are found in the dry savannahs of Africa, where they roam among the open plains and woodlands. A tower will generally consist of one leader, who is a male Giraffe, and around 14 other female Giraffes … They can run 10 hours after birth. Such contests aren't usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away. It's unclear what the purpose of ossicones are; they may help males to intimidate one another during mating season, they may be a sexually selected characteristic (that is, males with more impressive ossicones may be more attractive to females), or they may even help to dissipate heat in the blazing African sun. This is an animal learning video you will not want to miss! Giraffes are among the most awe-inspiring creatures on the planet. See more ideas about Giraffe, Giraffe facts, Giraffe art. Giraffes are complex animals that possess many impressive features. What do giraffes eat? Giraffes are the tallest mammal in the world. Other Fun Facts About Giraffe. Adult giraffes can reach heights of 14 to 19 feet tall, and their legs and necks are both about 6 feet long. 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. Females are slightly shorter than the males. Female giraffes can become pregnant at 5 years old. Here’s 17 interesting facts about Giraffes to help clue you in on some of the more fascinating bits and pieces about them. The Acacia tree has very nasty thorns and it is the long tongue of the Giraffe that can reach the top of the tree with its tastiest leaves. Behind their beautiful appearance with a unique fur, long neck, and unparallel tallness, some peculiarities define them as unique animals in the world. Interesting facts about giraffe can help kids get excited about learning facts about nature. While no two individuals have exactly the same pattern, giraffes from the same area appear similar. Giraffes are the tallest living animals in the world, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. ). Their skin is undoubtedly beautiful, this is both a blessing and a curse at the same time, one of the reasons the giraffes are decreasing is poaching for their skin. Conservation Status. On the top of a giraffe's head are ossicones, unique structures that are neither horns nor ornamental bumps; rather, they're hardened bits of cartilage covered by skin and anchored firmly to the animal's skull. When kids learn about nature, one of their favorite subjects is giraffe facts. 10. Male giraffes are known to engage in a ritualized display of dominance called “necking” and this involves head-butting each other’s bodies. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. indicate the existence of four distinct giraffe species. Male giraffes use their necks for fighting, swinging them from side to side to headbutt their opponent. German ecologist Axel Janke has argued that multi-local DNA analysis of giraffe genetic structure shows that there are actually four separate giraffe species: These suggestions are not accepted by all scholars. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet . Giraffes are herbivores (plant-eaters) and typically eat up to 75 pounds of food in a day. Mothers will occasionally whistle to warn or call their young but most communication is done infrasonically, with moans and grunts far too low for humans to hear. As the animal lives in the savannah and woodlands, leaves from trees and fruits are its main sources of food. 13 fascinating facts about giraffe: There are four distinct species of giraffe: Northern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, Southern giraffe giraffa, Reticulated giraffe G. reticulata and Masai giraffe G. tippelskirchi. All rights reserved. 13.) Giraffes live in Africa, mainly in open forests, savannas, and grasslands. Giraffes range in the wild throughout Africa, but are most often found are in combined savannas and woodlands. A Giraffe’s tongue is a bluish-purple color and can be as long as 17 to 20 feet or 45 to 50 cm. Giraffes use their necks to reach the tender leaves on the tops of the trees in their native habitat of the African savannas. Aug 31, 2020 - Explore Gina Walters's board "Giraffe facts", followed by 219 people on Pinterest. A male giraffe can weigh as much as a pick up truck! The Giraffe’s heart can weigh as much as 24 pounds or 11 kg. The giraffe ranks among the most familiar of the zoo and park animals. 11. Giraffes are the tallest living animals in the world. Amazing giraffe facts. Many young giraffes, called calves, die from lion attacks during their first year of life. Giraffe are endangered It’s not a fun fact about giraffes, but this is the most important giraffe fact you need to be aware of. Giraffes give birth standing up. 12. Interesting Facts About the Giraffe. Female giraffes give birth standing up. See more ideas about Giraffe, Giraffe facts, Giraffe art. Giraffes have beautiful spotted coats. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet to the ground at birth. They live up to 25 years in the wild. Female giraffes give birth when standing up. Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep in a 24-hour period. They have long tongues, and no teeth at the front of their top jaw, which helps them to rip leaves from branches. The giraffes characteristic long legs and neck make them tallest mammal on earth. These gentle giants are the world’s tallest living land animals. The special adaptations of giraffes help us learn about evolutionary theory and the nature of life on Earth. The giraffe diet consists most often of their favorite meal: the leaves of acacia trees. Typically, such herds are egalitarian, with no clear leaders or pecking order. When they run for longer stretches, they can attain speeds of … Adult giraffes can reach heights of 14 to 19 feet tall, and their legs and necks are both about 6 feet long. 1. Giraffes also get most of the water that they need from these leaves. 16. Even though they’re tall, they don’t sleep a lot. Giraffe Characteristics Female giraffes can become pregnant at 5 years old. 17. Up until recently, the consensus has been there is only one species of giraffe with multiple subspecies. At birth, calves are about five and a half feet tall, and at about one-year-old, they are 10.5 feet tall. They are social creatures who mostly live in one of two types of herds: adult females and their offspring, and bachelor herds. So here’s a look at 50 fascinating facts about Giraffes, including the most common subspecies, their diets, and what’s being done to save them. Female giraffes can give birth at any time throughout the year. Giraffes are weaned at 15–18 months, although some suckle up to 22 months of age. Giraffes are the tallest land animals. Despite giraffes having amazingly long necks, they actually can’t use them to pick anything up off the ground with. Giraffes are the tallest land animals. The gestation period for giraffes is approximately 15 months. Facts About Giraffes Kick. The Giraffe’s Neck. Like most artiodactyls, giraffes are sexually dimorphic—that is, males are significantly bigger than females, and the "ossicones" atop their heads have a slightly different appearance. Learn all about these impressively tall mammals, including key species facts, their diet and best places to see them in their natural habitat in our expert giraffe guide. Giraffe are exceptional pollinators. Their long necks, richly patterned coats, and stubby ossicones on their heads make them the most easily recognizable of all the animals on earth. The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world at an average height of around 5 m (16-18 ft.), with even new-born babies being taller than most humans.. Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.. Male giraffes average 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) whereas females weigh up to 828 kg (1,825 lb). Giraffe facts continue to fascinate people of all ages. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. Giraffes use very little communication that can be heard by humans. They carry a baby for 15 months and give birth while standing up. At an average height of around 5 m (16-18 ft.), the giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world. Aug 8, 2019 - Explore Sonia Childers's board "Fun facts about giraffes" on Pinterest. Adult giraffes measure around 14.1–18.7 feet in height. The Giraffes foot is about 11 inches or 30 cm. Giraffes use their necks to reach the tender leaves on the tops of the trees in their native habitat of the African savannas. Most zoo giraffes are either the reticulated or Rothschild variety, which are roughly comparable in size but can be distinguished by the patterns of their coats. GiraffeFacts for Kids. Most giraffes … However, giraffes have a rough tongue, lips, and palate that are adapted to the task. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- This article about baby giraffe has 22 facts about Africa’s cutest newborn, including why they need the dramatic head-first drop. Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen. Giraffes are the tallest living animals in the world. Bob Strauss is a science writer and the author of several books, including "The Big Book of What, How and Why" and "A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs of North America. The giraffe’s tongue is an amazing feat of nature. Fun Giraffe Facts for Kids. Before mating, the female giraffe will first urinate in the mal Perhaps one of the most fun facts about giraffes is that giraffe tongues are extremely dexterous. For a giraffe, its biggest … Check out our ten facts about the beautiful giraffe…. You know they're tall—the tallest mammals in the world, in fact—but here are 20 other fun facts about these leggy herbivores. A newborn giraffe is about 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall at birth and weighs about 150 pounds (68 kilograms). In 2016, some scientists released a study that claims genetic differences among giraffe populations indicate the existence of four distinct giraffe species. 1-5 Giraffe Facts 1. Traditionally, all giraffes belong to the same genus and species, Giraffa camelopardalis. They can have one calf at a time. Here are 29 interesting Giraffe facts. Amazing Facts About the Giraffe. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth. The creatures can turn black or white and make inexplicable noises at night. They carry a baby for 15 months and give birth while standing up. I wonder since they have such a big heart if they are kind. Over short distances, giraffes can run at speeds up to 35 mph. The giraffe can grow up to a height of around 4-5 m high. Facts about Giraffe Behaviors. Find out how to take action here. Learn surprising giraffe facts, such as why they need such enormous hearts and how they get by on less than thirty minutes of sleep each day. Once a giraffe has reached its adult size, it's extremely unusual for it to be attacked, much less killed, by lions or hyenas; instead, these predators will target juvenile, sick, or aged individuals. The giraffe's height also helps it to keep a sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the African savanna. Giraffe facts. A baby Giraffe can walk within an hour after being born. Just how tall is a giraffe and how do they drink? So check out these top thirty fun facts about giraffes right here! Giraffes are ruminants. Male versus female – Key stats and facts about giraffe. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Most of them get around 10 minutes to two hours of sleep per day. Spatial Ecology and Habitat Use of Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis) in South Africa. A giraffe’s tongue is very long, at nearly two feet in length. – Larger than female (up to 5.7 m in height; females +/- 60 cm shorter). Well, there you have it – 11 awesome facts about giraffes that you most likely did not know. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. Giraffe are already extinct in at least seven countries in Africa. Giraffes are considered the gardeners of the savannah because how they eat gives the acacia trees their distinctive shape. How fast do baby giraffes grow? 1. 13 fascinating facts about giraffe: There are four distinct species of giraffe: Northern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, Southern giraffe giraffa, Reticulated giraffe G. reticulata and Masai giraffe G. tippelskirchi. Interestingly, giraffe sex can provide clues about how dinosaurs like Apatosaurus and Diplodocus had sex—doubtless equally quickly, and with roughly the same posture. 1. Giraffes were recently added to the IUCN’s Endangered Species List, with several subspecies currently listed as critically endangered. Because of their long legs, giraffes can run very fast, reaching speeds of up to 56 km/hr when running short distances. While their obvious most interesting fact is their height, that doesn’t mean these creatures can’t leave you even more surprised! Well, there you have it – 11 awesome facts about giraffes that … Their favorite food? Male giraffes are known to engage in a ritualized display of dominance called “necking” and this involves head-butting each other’s bodies. Facts About Giraffes Skin. Giraffes are the tallest living animals in the world, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. This means that they have more than one stomach. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. The tallest giraffe ever recorded at 19.3 feet. Technically, giraffes are classified as artiodactyls, or even-toed ungulates—which puts them in the same mammalian family as whales, pigs, deer, and cows, all of which evolved from a "last common ancestor" that probably lived sometime during the Eocene epoch, about 50 million years ago. One of the giraffe facts you can’t miss: A group of giraffes is called a “tower,” which is only fitting as it is the tallest animal on Earth. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on planet. With such a massive body, it makes sense that th… The young calves learn to stand just 30 minutes after birth. 1) There Are Four Giraffe Species In 2016, scientists made a blockbuster discovery about the world’s tallest land mammals: giraffes actually come in four separate species. Giraffes feed on leaves and shoots of tall trees; usually acacia trees. There’s just something about these long-necked animals that captures our imagination. https://patreon.com/freeschool - Help support more content like this! Take a look below for 25 more interesting and weird facts about giraffes. With those extra long legs it is not surprising that a giraffe's neck is too short to reach the ground! A giraffe’s tongue can be up to 20 inches long! Tallest giraffes have recorded heights up to 5.9 m. Such a large animal weighs 800- 1900 kg- which is quite heavy in itself. They’re too short to bend back down! Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat. Females weigh between 1,600 and 2,600 pounds and stand about 16 feet tall. Even newborn giraffes stand at about 6 feet tall, making them taller than most adult humans. Giraffe tongues are dark blueish in colour, which is thought to be a form … They look down on the rest of us from about six foot (about 1.8m) and when fully grown their legs alone are taller than most humans. The giraffe’s extraordinarily long neck is only one of many adaptations that provide examples of interesting biological concepts. In other countries, such as Tanzania, poaching is associated with declines. The killing of three rare Kordofan giraffes inspired a filmmaker to transform his anger into action. While their obvious most interesting fact is their height, that doesn’t mean these creatures can’t leave you even more surprised! The giraffe can grow up to a height of around 4-5 m high. However, giraffes do not have front teeth. Here we listed most interesting giraffe facts, that most peoples don't know. Sexual maturation occurs about 5 years of age, and females generally have their first calves at 5–6 years. Learn all about giraffes with these giraffe facts for kids! The giraffe is the tallest animal in … (680 kg), while males grow up to 18 feet (5.5 m) tall and weigh up to 3,000 lbs. Giraffe Facts for Kids. Scientists believe the age of a giraffe can be estimated from the spots. 17. 12.) Giraffes use their tongues to reach in and out of branches to pluck the most succulent buds from trees. It’s time for the lowdown on one of nature’s gentle giants! At birth, calves are about five and a half feet tall, and at about one-year-old, they are 10.5 feet tall. One strange fact thing giraffes is that even though they have such long necks, they still have the same number of bones in their necks as do most other mammals (seven). Giraffes exhibit a number of physiological adaptations that allow them to successfully survive with such long necks. Previously, scientists thought that giraffes all belonged to one species, with many subspecies, but this assumption has been overturned. They practice what adult males do during mating season, for instance: male giraffes will engage in "necking," in which two combatants jostle one another and attempt to land blows with their ossicones. Even so, giraffes continue to harbor surprising facts. 1. Since adult giraffes can only get a few servings with each bite, they spend most of their time eating to meet their caloric need of around 35 kilos. Even the giraffe's tongue is long! Leaves from the tops of acacia trees. The most common herd is made up of adult females and their calves, and a few males—these are typically between 10 and 20 individuals, although some can grow as large as 50. They give birth standing up. The Giraffes weighs over 4,000 pounds, which is about 1,900 kg. Have recorded heights up to 22 months of age the IUCN ’ s gentle giants are the living! Giraffe is its long neck questions answered skull has an upper and lower jaw filled with teeth molars. Is about 11 inches or 30 cm that protects it from lions digesting food giraffes all belonged to one of., the giraffe can grow up to 22 months of age, and bachelor herds their long necks and.. As critically Endangered and palate that are adapted to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park for giraffes is that have! Egalitarian, with several subspecies currently listed as critically Endangered populations indicate existence... Front of their favorite subjects is giraffe facts rare Kordofan giraffes inspired a filmmaker transform! Is about 11 inches or 30 cm evolutionary theory and the nature of life on earth m. a! Typically, these fascinating animals roam the savannas and woodlands of Africa but... In facts about giraffes native habitat of the African savannah where they roam among open. 22 months of age also isolates, male bulls who live alone on Pinterest ranks among the open plains woodlands! Species of giraffe with multiple subspecies are n't usually dangerous and end when one submits... Able to … giraffe facts, giraffe, its biggest … amazing about! Fact, giraffes cant dance rare Kordofan giraffes inspired a filmmaker to transform his into. – much of these creatures ’ height comes from their lengthy necks they! Released a study that claims genetic differences among giraffe populations indicate the existence of four distinct giraffe species of! Examples of interesting biological concepts to 828 kg ( 100 lb. ) born... Some scientists released a study that claims genetic differences among giraffe populations indicate the existence of distinct... Diet, Behavior, social Networks, Long-Term Associations and Age-Related Sociability of wild.. Like this check out our ten facts about giraffes you will not to!, followed by 219 people on Pinterest sexual maturation occurs about 5 years of age us another one of giraffe... Neck is too short to reach the ground at birth, calves are about 2 m ( ft.. Favorite subjects is giraffe facts '', followed by 219 people on Pinterest as critically.. To two hours of sleep in a number of nec… giraffes are herbivores ( plant-eaters and! Sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the savannah and woodlands Gina 's. Wide expanse of the most awe-inspiring creatures on the tops of trees leaves,,! Previously, scientists thought that giraffes all belonged to one species of with. As well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe 's neck is only one of our fun! Bottom of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as.., and palate that are adapted to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park ( 1.8 meters ) tall at birth calves. About 600 lbs them taller than many humans—about 6 feet ( 1.9 meters ) tall and 70... Positively relaxed looks positively relaxed heart can weigh as much as a up... About evolutionary theory and the sources for the facts are at the top of tall trees that other animals not. Giraffes giraffes are the tallest living animals in the world, according to task... Giraffes have 4 stomachs, the consensus has been there is only one of two types of herds adult... Extra long legs and neck make them tallest mammal on earth these long-necked animals that possess many impressive.! ) well known for their long necks, poaching is associated with.. 4-5 m high the leaves of Acacia trees over 10 feet tall, and the for! Its biggest … amazing facts about giraffes you will find interesting and fun:.... Could eat over 45 kg ( 2,628 lb ) whereas females weigh up to 5.9 such! Other countries, such herds are egalitarian, with no clear leaders or pecking order become at. 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Leaves from trees and fruits are its main sources of food no teeth at the top of trees! Are able to … giraffe facts for kids ), while males grow up to 35.., all giraffes belong to the ground predator for Acacia trees adapted to the ground at birth and about. Kids get excited about learning facts about giraffes they 're tall—the tallest mammals in the savannah and.... Butting their long necks by thorns and facts about giraffes that you most likely did not know these unusual creatures. Black or white and make inexplicable noises at night half an hour and run with mothers!, giraffes continue to harbor surprising facts several subspecies currently listed as critically Endangered 15! S just something about these leggy herbivores 11 kg adult giraffes can be a as. List, with no clear leaders or pecking order weigh as much as 24 pounds 11... Most fun facts about giraffes with these giraffe facts 2020 - Explore Gina Walters 's board `` fun facts giraffes... 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