Science & Technology

Despite its size, a giraffe can run at speeds exceeding 30 mph.

A giraffe is a hoofed mammal with a remarkably long neck. The animal lives in the open woodlands and savannahs throughout Africa. There are several different species of giraffe, each with its distinctive outer coat. It has a long, black tongue that can be up to 18 inches in length. Giraffes are herbivores that eat the leaves, fruits, and seeds from high up in the trees where few other animals can reach. They live a relatively long life of up to 25 years. When they feel threatened, giraffes can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

Ancestry and Evolution

The giraffe’s closest living relative is an okapi, also known as the forest giraffe. Oddly, the okapi lacks the elongated neck feature. The two animals are the only two living genera in the scientific family Giraffidae. The Giraffidae family’s sister group, Antilocapridae, existed more than 20 million years ago. Other grazing herbivores that belong to Ruminantia — a suborder of animals that gains nutrients from plant-based foods using a fermentation process that takes place in specialized stomachs – are deer, cattle, antelope, goats, and sheep.

Today, there are more than 8,500 giraffes in existence. Over time, areas in North Africa and parts of the sub-Saharan desert that once had the animals roaming and grazing in the open woodlands have seen a depletion of population. They still reside in other parts of the sub-Saharan desert and savannahs and are beginning to increase in population size.

Appearance

Giraffes have a very distinct look. Their necks are incredibly long, while their bodies are short; they have horn-like features on their foreheads and long black tongues. Their fur contains shaped markings that vary in color, size, and design based on the particular species of the animal. They have large eyes and ears that assist with their excellent vision and hearing capabilities.

Giraffes and other ruminants have multiple stomachs that allow them to ferment the food they eat to absorb the food’s nutrients. Each of their four stomachs has its function to aid in the animal’s digestion.

Diet and Habitat

Giraffes are herbivores that eat plants, leaves, seeds, and fruits, up to 75 pounds of food each day. A giraffe does not need to drink lots of water because so much is absorbed from the food they consume. However, if they come across clean water, they will drink it. Due to their odd body shape, the mammal must splay (spread apart) their front legs to be able to reach the water.  A giraffe can survive for up to three weeks without drinking any water.

Due to their ability to go for long periods without water, the desert-like areas they live in are ideal for their survival. Giraffes are found in different parts of Africa, mostly residing in areas south of the sub-Saharan desert. Each of the nine different species of giraffe is found in various countries throughout the African continent. The loss of vast regions has severely reduced the prime habitats for giraffes.

Reproduction and Lifespan of the Giraffe

Around the three-to-four-year mark, giraffes reach sexual maturity and can become pregnant. A female giraffe is pregnant for around 15 months and gives birth to a single infant. On rare occasions, a giraffe will give birth to twins. At birth, a baby giraffe calf is more than 70 inches tall. It looks exactly like an adult giraffe with its unique markings and long neck. The calf grows and matures over time and reaches its full height by age four. However, it takes until about age eight before they are the full weight of an adult giraffe.

In the wild and under ideal conditions, a giraffe can live up to 25 years, though in captivity some have lived to be up to 28. It is more common to see a giraffe live only 15 to 18 years in the wild due to harsh conditions, lack of vegetation, and the presence of predators in some areas.

Predators

There is not a huge predatory threat to giraffes given their size and height. Though there are still some animals they need to watch. Lions are among their most dangerous predators, but also hyenas and leopards. Baby giraffes face the greatest risk of becoming a meal. Sadly, about 50% of babies do not make it past six months of age.

The adult animal’s height allows it to see danger coming much more quickly, giving time to escape and find refuge. It also uses its long legs to defend against attacks.

Humans are one of the greatest threats. The hunting of wild giraffes has significantly reduced their population.

Famous Giraffes

Because giraffes have a naturally kind and gentle nature, they are appreciated by humans who have used them to create animated characters several times. Perhaps the most famous is Melman, the giraffe in the movie Madagascar. Melman is portrayed as a caring animal who learns to love and accept himself as he is throughout this entertaining movie.

Giselle from Animals United plays a courageous and determined character who protects the other animals in the show.

The popular toy and clothing store Toys R Us features Geoffrey the Giraffe as its mascot. He has been used in advertisements for the company since 1965.

1. The giraffe is a grazing herbivore that belongs to Ruminantia — a suborder of animals that gains nutrients from plant-based foods using a fermentation process that takes place in its four stomachs, allowing it to ferment the food it eats to absorb the food’s nutrients.
2. The giraffe’s fur contains shaped markings that vary in color, size, and design based on the particular species.
3. The adult giraffe’s height allows it to see danger coming much more quickly, giving time to escape a predator, and it uses its long legs to defend against attacks.