- Giraffe -

Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans, about 6 feet. These long legs allow them to run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles an hour over longer distances. Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen.

Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach. Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food.

The giraffe's height also helps it to keep a sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the African savanna.

Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet to the ground at birth. These infants can stand up in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth.

Bulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. Such contests aren't usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away.

Two Giraffe bulls in battle

Did you know?
Each Giraffe has its own unique pattern of coat markings
The Giraffe has seven neck vertebrae like a human
A Giraffe stands while sleeping
It is the tallest of all living land mammals

Average lifespan in the wild: 25 years
Size: 14 to 19 ft
Weight: 1,750 to 2,800 lbs
Size relative to a 6-ft man:

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