Giraffe
GIRAFFE FACT SHEET
STATUS:
Vulnerable.
DESCRIPTION:
Giraffes are one of the world's tallest mammals. They are well known for their long necks, long legs, and spotted patterns. Giraffes have small "horns" or knobs on top of their heads that grow to be about five inches long. These knobs are used to protect the head in fights. SIZE:
Male giraffes are larger than females. Males weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and stand up to 19 feet tall. Female giraffes weigh between 1,600 and
2,600 pounds and grow to be 16 feet tall.
POPULATION:
Giraffe populations are relatively stable.
LIFESPAN:
Healthy giraffes live about 25 years in the wild.
RANGE:
Giraffes can be found in central, eastern and southern
Africa.
HABITAT:
Giraffes live in the savannas of Africa, where they roam freely among the tall trees, arid land, dense forests and open plains.
FOOD:
Their long necks help giraffes eat leaves from tall trees, typically acacia trees. If they need to, giraffes can go for several days without water. Instead of drinking, giraffes stay hydrated by the moisture from leaves.
BEHAVIOR:
Giraffes are non-territorial, social animals. They travel in large herds that are not organized in any way. Herds may consist of any combination of sexes or ages.
OFFSPRING:
Female giraffes typically give birth to one calf after a fifteen-month gestation period. During the first week of its life, the mother carefully guards her calf. Young giraffes are very vulnerable and cannot defend themselves. While mothers feed, the young are kept in small nursery groups.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Giraffes have spots covering their entire bodies, except their underbellies, with each giraffe having a unique pattern of spots. Giraffes have long necks, which they use to browse the leaves of trees. They also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs. Like nearly all mammals, a giraffe has seven neck vertebrae, which are extremely elongated. These bones produce bud like horns called ossicorns.
STATUS:
Vulnerable.
DESCRIPTION:
Giraffes are one of the world's tallest mammals. They are well known for their long necks, long legs, and spotted patterns. Giraffes have small "horns" or knobs on top of their heads that grow to be about five inches long. These knobs are used to protect the head in fights. SIZE:
Male giraffes are larger than females. Males weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and stand up to 19 feet tall. Female giraffes weigh between 1,600 and
2,600 pounds and grow to be 16 feet tall.
POPULATION:
Giraffe populations are relatively stable.
LIFESPAN:
Healthy giraffes live about 25 years in the wild.
RANGE:
Giraffes can be found in central, eastern and southern
Africa.
HABITAT:
Giraffes live in the savannas of Africa, where they roam freely among the tall trees, arid land, dense forests and open plains.
FOOD:
Their long necks help giraffes eat leaves from tall trees, typically acacia trees. If they need to, giraffes can go for several days without water. Instead of drinking, giraffes stay hydrated by the moisture from leaves.
BEHAVIOR:
Giraffes are non-territorial, social animals. They travel in large herds that are not organized in any way. Herds may consist of any combination of sexes or ages.
OFFSPRING:
Female giraffes typically give birth to one calf after a fifteen-month gestation period. During the first week of its life, the mother carefully guards her calf. Young giraffes are very vulnerable and cannot defend themselves. While mothers feed, the young are kept in small nursery groups.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Giraffes have spots covering their entire bodies, except their underbellies, with each giraffe having a unique pattern of spots. Giraffes have long necks, which they use to browse the leaves of trees. They also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs. Like nearly all mammals, a giraffe has seven neck vertebrae, which are extremely elongated. These bones produce bud like horns called ossicorns.