A tall-tree specialist with very long legs and a long neck. The coat is tan with brown patches, and the males use their bony horns and necks for fighting.

Subspecies
Nine subspecies: West African (G.c. peralta), Kordofan (G.c. antiquorum), Nubian (G.c. camelopardalis), Reticulated (G.c. reticulata), Rothschild (G.c. rothchildi), Masai (G.c. tippelskirchi), Thornicroft (G.c. thornicrofti) and Southern African (G.c. capensis/G.c. angolensis).

Life span
25 years (28 in captivity).

Statistics
3.8-4.7m long with a tail 80-100cm and standing 4-4.7m at the shoulder. Height to horn tips 4.7-5.3m in males and 3.9-4.5m in females.

Physical description
A large animal with extremely long legs, a sloping back and a very long neck. They have a long muzzle and large eyes, medium-sized ears and bony horns on head (especially in adult males). The coat is short and sandy-coloured with dark brown patches of varying intensities and shapes. They have a short, upright brown mane and a long dark tassle on tail, and cloven hooves.

Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa. Increasingly rare in the west.

Habitat
Open grasslands with scattered trees

Diet
The giraffe is the ultimate specialist for feeding from tall trees, particularly Acacia and Commiphora (myrrh) trees on the plains of Africa. They use their rubbery lips and very long tongue to pluck leaves from prickly trees high above the reach of other animals.

Behaviour
They form loose, scattered herds of up to 20 individuals, and constantly move from one group to another. Mature males often roam in search of breeding females, and fight for dominance using their necks and buttressed skulls.

Reproduction
Males check the status of females they come across (chemicals in her urine) and mate with those in heat. Gestation lasts 15 months, after which a single calf is born. The female can mate again 5 months after giving birth - there is no breeding season. For the first few weeks the calf remains hidden in the shade with the mother returning to it, and later it joins a creche. Calves grow fast, and are weaned at 18 months, although they start eating solids well before then. Fifty per cent die in their first 6 months, the victims of predators. Sexual maturity is reached at 4-5 although bulls usually only get to mate at 8 or more years old.

Conservation status
Not currently threatened, although some populations in West Africa are declining.

Records
They are the tallest animals in the world.

History
The giraffe family was more widespread in the Pliocene, but now there are just two members remaining, both specialising in browsing high vegetation.