Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Giraffes first experience life as a two metre drop to the ground, because female giraffes give birth standing up. For the first few weeks, the calf remains hidden in the shade and the mother returns to it from her foraging trips. Later on, the calf is taken to join a creche. Calves grow fast and are weaned at 18 months, although they start eating solids well before then.
What do they sound like?
Earth News
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Niger's giraffes stage a comeback
The giraffe population of Niger, which was on the verge of extinction just 10 years ago, is now on the rise and moving into new habitats.
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Did you know?
For centuries experts have argued over how the giraffe got its long neck.
About the Giraffe
The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant. It is covered in large, irregular patches of yellow to black fur separated by white, off-white, or dark yellowish brown background. The average mass for an adult male giraffe is 1,191 kilograms (2,630 lb) while the average mass for an adult female is 828 kilograms (1,830 lb). It is approximately 4.3 metres (14 ft) to 5.2 metres (17 ft) tall, although the tallest male recorded stood almost 6 metres (20 ft).
The giraffe is related to deer and cattle, but is placed in a separate family, the Giraffidae, consisting of only the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi. Its range extends from Chad in Central Africa to South Africa.
Giraffes usually inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands. However, when food is scarce they will venture into areas with denser vegetation. They prefer areas with plenty of acacia growth. They will drink large quantities of water when available, which enables them to live for extended periods in dry, arid areas.
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Scientific Classification
Order: Even-toed ungulate (Artiodactyla)
Genus: Giraffa
Species: Giraffe (camelopardalis)
The Giraffe is
- Camouflaged
- Herbivorous
- Hierarchical
- Nomadic
- Pheromone signaller
- Polygynous
- Precocial
- Sexually dimorphic
- Social
- Viviparous
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
They can be found in the following habitats:
Conservation Status
The Giraffe is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Elsewhere on the web
- Giraffe - Giraffa camelopardalis (arkive.org)
- Giraffa camelopardalis (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Giraffe fact sheet (awf.org)
- Inside Nature's Giants: giraffes (channel4.com)
- Encyclopedia of Life entry (eol.org)
- IUCN Red List information (iucnredlist.org)
- Giraffe (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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