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Giraffe
fact-file
The word "giraffe" comes from an Arabic word, "zirafah", which
means "the tallest of all".
A
giraffe's tongue is 18 inches long.
Giraffes
have only seven vertebrae in their neck, the same number as
humans.
The
giraffe has an extra-large heart to pump all the blood uphill
to its head! As a result, it has the highest blood pressure
of any animal.
When
giraffes were first brought to Rome in 46BC, they were thought
to be as big as a camel, with spots like a leopard. Although
we've long since known the giraffe is not a combination of
these animals, the name scientific name camelopardalis stuck.
A
powerful kick from a giraffe can kill a lion.
Male
and female giraffes are called 'bulls' and 'cows'. Babies
are called 'calves'. Ahhhhh.
Giraffes
have only one living relative - the okapi. They have a much
shorter neck and black-and-white stripey hindquarters.
Lemur
fact-file
Lemurs
are primates - like monkeys, apes and humans.
Lemur
means "ghost" in Malagasay - some
people in Madagascar believe lemurs are ghost or soul of a
dead relative.
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