Facts About Giraffe

Being the tallest of all land-living species, the giraffe is a very fascinating animal. The male giraffe is known to have a height of 4.8 to 5.5 metres (16 to 18 feet tall) and weighs up to 1300 kilograms (i.e. 3,000 pounds). The female giraffe is comparatively short in height and also weighs less. The name ‘giraffe’ is born out of an Arab word, ‘Xirapha’ meaning ‘one that can walk very fast’. This animal is one unique creature because despite its very long neck, the giraffe has equal number of cervical vertebrae as a human being.  Read this article to know more interesting and amazing facts about the giraffe.

 

Class - Mammalia 

Order - Artiodactyla 

Family - Giraffidae 

Genus - Giraffa

Species - Camelopardalis

Names – male:  bull 

Range – Mostly south of Sahara and East Africa. 

Habitat - Dry savannas and open woodland. 

Size (Height) - Males are about 5.5 m (17 ft) tall, whereas females are about 4.3 m (14 ft) tall. 

Feeding Habits - Giraffes are herbivores. They generally eat leaves from acacia, mimosa and wild apricot trees. 

Offspring – Female giraffe begins breeding when of around four years of age. The gestation period is usually of about 15 months. Mothers nurse for a year and the calf stays close for several more months. 

Life Span – About 25 years in the wild.