In Celebration of World Giraffe Day
Giraffes are the tallest land mammals in the world. They are also one of the most graceful of all animals considering their large size. To watch a giraffe gallop gives the appearance of running in slow motion, even though they can average almost 40 miles per hour.
Subspecies of Giraffes
There are 9 sub(species) of giraffes
Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. The Masai Giraffe lives in Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, while the Reticulated Giraffe lives in Northeastern Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Their habitat is dry savanna's, open woodlands, and locations with acacia trees. In the graphic below, you can see the many sub(species) of giraffes and their patterns.
Giraffe Conservation
Did You Know?
They have a long black tongue (18-20 inches) for reaching between long thorns to feed on tender tree leaves and twigs.
Giraffes can spend 16 to 20 hours a day browsing on leaves, twigs, bark, flowers, and fruit.
A male giraffe is called a bull, female is a cow, and baby is a calf.
The coat pattern on a giraffe not only serves as camouflage but also as "thermal windows, sites for complex blood vessel systems and large sweat glands. Each giraffe has his own unique coat pattern making it easier to tell them apart which is similar to identifying humans by their finger prints.
Giraffes have only seven vertebrae in the neck which is the same number as humans.
Giraffes can run in a gallop, with their average speed around 37 miles per hour.
Giraffes sleep for 5 minutes at a time and usually in a standing position.