With long legs and a long neck, the giraffe is a mammalruminant which stands out as the tallest animal on the planet, reaching an average of four meters in height. Giraffes have a large heart, which weighs about 11 kg, and a lung capable of holding about 55 liters of air. that kind of name scientificGiraffa camelopardalislives on the African continent and currently, due to the increasing reduction of its population, it is classified as vulnerable, which means that it presents a high risk of extinction in the future. next.
The giraffe has a characteristic yellowish fur with large brown spots, which help camouflage this animal. In the belly region, however, there are no spots, as the fur is white. It is noteworthy that the different subspecies of giraffes are characterized by differences in their spotting pattern.
In the region of the head, it is possible to verify, in males and females, the presence of horns, structures similar to horns that are used in fights between individuals (see figure below). These horns are covered with hair and can reach up to 13 centimeters.
The giraffe is a herbivorous animal that feeds mainly on acacia leaves, a plant with a lot of thorns. As giraffes have a flexible tongue of approximately 46 centimeters, the removal of the leaves is done very safely. This animal eats an average of 34 kilos of food a day, spending most of its time eating.
Horns are present in male and female giraffes.
Giraffes live in packs with both females and males, but the male is considered the dominant one. On average, the giraffe lives 25 years and normally gives birth to only one calf for a lifetime. Giraffes' gestation lasts around 15 months and, at birth, the calf is already about 1.5 meters tall. A curious fact is that, at the time of birth, giraffes usually do not lie down, causing the calf to fall from a height of approximately two meters.
After some time of birth, the puppies start to be together with other puppies in a kind of nursery. Meanwhile, a female giraffe closely watches all the young as if it were a babysitter.
Giraffes have lions, crocodiles and man himself as predators. To defend against enemies, giraffes use a powerful kick and rely on their speed, as they can reach up to 56 kilometers per hour.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
