Giraffes can run at speeds of up to 35 mph.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals on Earth. There are nine subspecies found under the single umbrella term of "giraffe." Some are darker, some shorter, some heavier. But the major distinctions between the subspecies come from their coat patterns, horns and location.
African Savanna
Giraffes live in Africa, particularly on the savanna, or tropical grasslands. This biome is the middle ground between a wet, tropical rainforest and a dry desert. The savanna is subject to warm temperatures all year and experiences two distinct seasons: a monsoon season in summer and a dry period in winter. Through evolution, these creatures have adapted to living in this enigmatic environment.
Trees on the Savanna
Giraffes are herbivores. They graze like cattle, stripping leaves off trees and tall bushes and then digesting it in their four stomachs. The savanna offers these animals two advantages. First, giraffes are one of only a few animals that can actually reach the tree leaves, meaning that they have a food source that only they can get to. Second, since the tropical grasslands are essentially grassy plains dotted with trees and bushes, these animals have built-in vantage points because of their height. This allows them to keep an eye out for approaching predators.
Water
The most important reason giraffes can live on the savanna is the tree leaves. The leaves give these animals enough water to sustain them through the intensely dry winter months. This means they don't have to migrate. Though giraffes visit watering holes every few days, they can go for weeks without drinking water. When they do, they must do so in shifts because they have to bend in an awkward and vulnerable position to reach the water. With their legs spread and their necks down, they are much more susceptible to lions and crocodiles. They rely on the moisture found in their food to limit the amount of time they must spend trying to drink from watering holes. In certain regions, such as Namibia, moisture from coastal fog accumulates on the leaves, giving additional water to giraffes in that area.
Anatomy
Giraffes have a system of blood vessels that run under those reddish patches on their coats. A larger blood vessel circles each patch and sends smaller vessels into the patch's center. At the center, the vessels release heat from the body, regulating the animal's body temperature. This is one contributing factor to the giraffe's long neck and slender build. Surface area is increased this way, helping the animal to cool off in the heat.
Fun Facts
When Romans first saw giraffes, they called them camel leopards because of the hump on their backs and the spots on their coat. The scientific name for the giraffe is Giraffa camelopardalis. Their 21-inch long tongues are prehensile, so they can wrap them around juicy tree leaves. One of their favorite trees, the acacia, has thorns; the giraffe's thick saliva protects their tongues from being punctured. Some scientists believe that the giraffe's tongue is dark to keep it from getting sunburned when the animal is foraging for leaves.
Giraffes take six five-minute naps in a 24 hour period, averaging a total of 30 minutes of sleep per day.
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