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The giraffe is a genus of African even-toed ungulate mammals, the tallest living terrestrial animals and the largest ruminants. Giraffes are still found in numerous national parks and natural reserves, but estimations as of 2016 indicate that there are approximately 97.5 thousand members of Giraffa in the wild. More than 1.6 thousand were kept in zoos in 2010.
Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.
The chief distinguishing characteristic of giraffes besides long neck and legs are distinctive coat patterns. Below is presented great visualization of the distinguishing characteristic of giraffes created by Reddit use: ivanesas.
The genetics of giraffes using mitochondrial DNA and analyses of the morphology of giraffes suggested multiple species of giraffes exist.
Masai giraffe (current population: 31611)
African giraffe (population: 21387)
Angolan giraffe (population: 17551)
Reticulated giraffe (population: 8661)
Kordofan giraffe (population: 2000)
Rothchild’s (population: 1671)
Nubian giraffe (population: 650)
Thornicroft’s giraffe (population: 600)
West African giraffe (population: 400)
Interesting facts about giraffes
Giraffes are the tallest land animals on earth, with males standing up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and females reaching up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall.
Giraffes have incredibly long necks, but they actually have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans do – seven. However, each of their vertebrae can be over 10 inches (25 centimeters) long!
Giraffes have very unique skin patterns that are like human fingerprints – no two giraffes have the same pattern.
Giraffes are herbivores and primarily eat leaves, flowers, and fruit from trees. Their long necks allow them to reach food that other animals can’t.
Despite their height, giraffes are actually very fast runners and can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour).
Giraffes are social animals and live in groups called towers or herds. These groups can include both males and females.
Baby giraffes, called calves, can stand and walk within an hour of being born. They are also born with horns called ossicones, which are made of bone and covered in skin.
Giraffes have a unique way of drinking water – they have to spread their front legs wide and bend down to reach the water with their long necks. They also only need to drink water once every few days, as they get most of their water from the plants they eat.
Giraffes are endangered in the wild, with only around 100,000 left in the world. Their biggest threats include habitat loss, poaching, and civil unrest in some African countries.
