Interesting Facts About Giraffes
The average lifespan of a giraffe in the wild is 25 years.
Male giraffes are called bulls. Females are known as cows and baby giraffes are referred to as calves.
Giraffes have black tongues that can extend approximately 20 inches. Their tongues are prehensile which means that it can grab and hold onto objects.
A female giraffe gives birth to a single offspring after a gestation period of approximately 15 months. Females give birth standing up. Baby giraffes are 6 feet tall and weigh an average of 150 pounds when they are born.
Each giraffe has unique markings that distinguish it from others. No two giraffes have exactly the same makings.
A giraffe's neck can measure up to 5 feet in length.
A giraffe can run at a speed of 35 miles per hour. They have also been known to jump up to 6 feet.
Male giraffes stand up to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Females grow up to 16 feet tall and weigh approximately 2,500 pounds.
Giraffes need very little sleep and may only sleep between 20 minutes to two hours out of a twenty-four hour period.
Giraffes have elongated vertebrae in their necks that protrude at the top of the giraffe's head forming small blunt horns.
The color of a giraffe's coat tends to become darker with age.
A giraffe eats about 140 pounds of food a day.
The hooves of an adult giraffe are about 12 inches wide.
A male giraffe can tell if a female is fertile by tasting her urine. Male giraffes perform a type of dance to impress fertile females.
Giraffes have excellent vision and are able to perceive color.
Giraffes can go for weeks without drinking water but even so they still usually seek water every few days. Giraffes derive much of their water from the plants they eat.
At one time it was believed that giraffes were mute but they do make sounds. A form of communication used by giraffes is called infrasound and cannot be heard by humans. Giraffes do grunt, snort and bellow.
Fossil records of the giraffe date back to approximately 1.5 million years.
The front legs of a giraffe are longer than the hind legs.
A giraffe's markings act as camouflage allowing them to hide among the trees.
Sources:
www.nationalzoo.si.edu
www.encyclomedia.com
www.nationalgeographic.com
www.animalcorner.co.uk
Published by Darlene Zagata
Darlene is a professional writer specializing in health and pet care. She is the author of two books and a contributing author to several anthologies. Her interests include the study of ancient civilizations... View profile
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- The average lifespan of a giraffe in the wild is 25 years.
- A giraffe's neck can measure up to 5 feet in length.
- The color of a giraffe's coat tends to become darker with age.