We all know that giraffes are
tall and have purple tongues. They are mammals and leaves are their favorite
food. Kids learn this stuff in elementary school. How about some interesting
facts and trivias about giraffes?
Giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis)
are the world’s tallest mammals that exist, thanks to their towering legs and
long neck. It stands 16-20 ft. tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg. for
males, and about 830 kg. for females. The word Giraffe comes from the Arabic
word – zerafa, meaning “charming” or “lovely one”. Its scientific name refers
to camel-like face and the patches of its color on fur, as well as a mix of
camel and leopard. It has an oversized heart (about two feet long and twenty
five pounds) that pumps blood all the way to its head. As a result, giraffes have
the highest blood pressure of any animal: 280/180. Not surprisingly, because of
their high blood pressure, they are prone to heart attacks.
Find out more about their habitat and fun giraffe facts:
o
Giraffes are ruminants, meaning they have more than one
stomach. In fact, giraffes have four stomach, the extra stomachs are assisting
in digesting foods.
o
Giraffes are able to clean their ears through their tongue
o
Giraffes have bluish-purple tongues which are tough enough
and covered with briskly hair to help them in eating thorny Acacia leaves.
o
Giraffes can drink more than 12 gallons in one setting and
they can last longer without water than camels
o
Drinking is the most dangerous thing that giraffes do. While
drinking, they can’t keep a look out for predators and are vulnerable for
attack.
o
Giraffes spread their legs far apart while drinking
o
You can identify the sex of the giraffe through the horns in
their head.
o
Both male and females have horns but females are smaller and
cover with hair at the top. Male giraffes may have up to three additional
horns.
o
The giraffes life span is about 20-25 years
o
Giraffes neck contains the same number of vertebrae at a
human neck
o
A giraffes heart can pump 16 gallons of blood in one minute
o
Giraffes tail is ten times thicker than a human hair strand
o
Male giraffes are known as bulls and females as cows
o
Giraffes have the longest tail of any land mammal – up to 8
feet long
o Male giraffes sometimes fight with their necks over female
giraffes. It is called “necking”.
o
The age of giraffes can be identified through its spot – the
darker the spots, the older the giraffe
o
Giraffes have the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal
averaging 1.9 hours per day
o
Giraffes can reach a speed of up to 60 km/hr (37 mph)
o
Giraffes have 2 gaits, walking and scalloping
o
Giraffes saliva are antiseptic that can kill germs.
o
Giraffes do have walk patterns. They walk with both right
legs, then both left legs, if they don’t they will tip over.
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