Giraffes are the tallest of all the land mammals, and because of their size they have few predators.
A giraffe can run at a speed of 60 Km/h (35 miles) per hour.
Giraffes are the tallest of all the land mammals, and they can run as fast as 35 miles per hour but they can’t maintain that speed for long periods of time.
The long neck and legs of a giraffe make it look somewhat awkward, but they help the animal to reach leaves high in trees. A giraffe’s tongue is about two feet long, and its spots help to camouflage it in the wild.
Giraffes are herbivores, which means that they only eat plants. They browse on the leaves of trees, which they eat with their long tongues. Giraffes are social animals, and they live in herds of up to 50 individuals.
The scientific name for a giraffe is Giraffa camelopardalis. The word giraffe comes from the Arabic word zarafah, zarāfah (زرافة), which is perhaps borrowed from the animal’s Somali name geri. The Arab name is translated as “fast-walker”. There are nine subspecies of giraffe, and they are found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
Did you know that a baby giraffe is about six feet tall at birth? Adult giraffes can grow to be 18 feet tall! The world’s tallest living giraffe is Forest (Australia), who measures 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) to the top of the ossicones, as verified at Australia Zoo.
Giraffe Species
Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are presently classified as one species, with nine subspecies.
The nine subspecies of giraffe, and they are found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
1. Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardis – West African Giraffe
2. Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata – Reticulated Giraffe
3. Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi – Rothschild’s Giraffe
4. Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi – Masai Giraffe
5. Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa – South African Giraffe
6. Giraffa camelopardalis peralta – Angolan Giraffe
7. Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti – Thornicroft’s Giraffe
8. Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum – Kordofan Giraffe
9. Giraffa camelopardalis wardi – Nubian Giraffe
The tallest giraffe ever recorded was 5.88 m (19 ft 3 in) tall and was a male Masai giraffe named George. He lived at the London Zoo from 1966 until his death in 1979.
The largest herd of giraffes is found in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The reserve is home to more than 1,500 giraffes.
The Masai giraffe is the largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 6 m (20 ft) tall and weigh up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). The females are usually about 5 m (16 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).
The Rothschild’s giraffe is the tallest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 6 m (20 ft) tall and weigh up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). The females are usually about 5 m (16 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).
The reticulated giraffe is the second largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 5.5 m (18 ft) tall and weigh up to 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). The females are usually about 4.5 m (15 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,300 kg (2,900 lb).
The Angolan giraffe is the third largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 5.2 m (17 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,800 kg (4,000 lb). The females are usually about 4.5 m (15 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb).
The South African giraffe is the fourth largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 5 m (16 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). The females are usually about 4.5 m (15 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,100 kg (2,400 lb).
The Kordofan giraffe is the fifth largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 4.8 m (16 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). The females are usually about 4.2 m (14 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).
The Nubian giraffe is the sixth largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 4.8 m (16 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). The females are usually about 4.2 m (14 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).
The West African giraffe is the seventh largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 4.6 m (15 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,400 kg (3,100 lb). The females are usually about 4 m (13 ft) tall and weigh up to 800 kg (1,800 lb).
The Thornicroft’s giraffe is the eighth largest subspecies of giraffe. Adult bulls can grow to be 4.6 m (15 ft) tall and weigh up to 1,400 kg (3,100 lb).
