The giraffe is an African mammal. It is the tallest of all land-living animal species, and is the largest ruminant. It is covered in large, irregular patches of yellow to black fur separated by white, off-white, or dark yellowish brown background. The average weight of an adult male giraffe is 1,191 kilograms while of an adult female is 828 kilograms. It is approximately 14 ft to 17 ft tall, although the tallest male recorded stood almost 20 ft. The giraffe is related to deer and cattle. But it is placed in a separate family, the Giraffidae, consisting of the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi. Giraffes are found from Chad in Central Africa to South Africa. They usually inhabit in savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands.
Classification and Evolution:-The giraffe is one of only two living species of the family Giraffidae, along with the okapi. The family was once much more extensive, with numerous other species. The giraffids evolved from a 9.8 ft tall antelope-like mammal that roamed Europe and Asia some 30–50 million years ago. The earliest known giraffid was Climacoceras, which resembled deer. The modern genus Giraffa included a number of other long-necked species, such as Giraffa jumae, that do not survive today. The modern species, Giraffa Camelopardalis (camel and leopard), appeared during the 1 million years ago.
Different numbers of subspecies, differentiated by colour and pattern variations and range are:
1. Somali Giraffe (northeastern Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia)
2. Smoky Giraffe (Angola, Zambia)
3. Kordofan Giraffe (Sudan, Cameroon)
4. Masai Giraffe (central and southern Kenya, Tanzania)
5. Nubian Giraffe (eastern Sudan, northeast Congo)
6. Rothschild Giraffe (Uganda, north-central Kenya)
7. South African Giraffe ( South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique)
8. Rhodesian Giraffe (eastern Zambia)
9. Nigerian Giraffe (Niger)
Body Structure:- Male giraffes are up to 18 ft tall at the horn tips, and weigh between 800 and 1,930 kilograms. Females are between 13 and 15 ft tall and weigh between 550 and 1,180 kilograms. The coat is made up of brown blotches or patches separated by lighter hair. Each giraffe has a unique coat pattern. Both sexes have horns, although the horns of a female are smaller. The appearance of horns is a reliable method of identifying the sex of giraffes, with the females displaying tufts of hair on the top of the horns, whereas males’ horns tend to be bald on top. Giraffes have long necks which they use to browse tree leaves.
Giraffes also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs. The pace of the giraffe is an amble, though when pursued it can run extremely fast, up to 55 km/h. Giraffes are difficult and dangerous prey. They defend themselves from tiger and lion with a powerful kick. A giraffe’s heart can weigh up to 10 kg and measure about 2 ft long.
Diet:- The giraffes browse on the twigs of trees, preferring Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia. They also eat grass and fruit. A giraffe can eat 65 29 kg of leaves and twigs daily, but can survive on just 6.8 kg. They drink large quantities of water when available, which enables them to live for extended periods in dry, arid areas. The giraffe can survive without water for extended periods.
Social structure:- Female giraffes associate in groups of a dozen or so members, occasionally including a few younger males. Younger males tend to live in “bachelor” herds, with older males often leading solitary lives. The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which is between 10 minutes and 2 hours in a 24-hour period, averaging 1.9 hours per day. Although generally quiet and not vocal, giraffes have been heard to make various sounds.