Physical Characteristics

• Tallest animal in the world
• Males can get as tall as 16-18 feet and weigh up to 2,000 Lbs.
• Females are usualy 14-16 feet and weight less
• The spots on giraffes very on what kind of giraffe they are
• Different types of giraffes include
• Nubian giraffes have dark-reddish to chestnut blotches
• Reticulated giraffes has large four sided, liver color spots which are seperated by white narrow lines
• All spots get darker as the giraffe ages

Behavior

• The neck is always held verticle except during there short periods of sleep in usually 5 minutes of duration, when the head is rested on the rump
• When giraffes walk the two legs on the same side of the body swing
• Giraffes can gallaop between the speeds of 31-37 mph.
• Giraffes band together into loose groups to have protection from predators
• Young males developed a ritual called necking, to determine dominance

Reproduction and Growth

• Female giraffes concive on their 5th year
• Their gestation period lasts for about 15 months
• An interval of 20 months
• A maximum longivity of 25 years
• A cow may reproduce up to 12 calves in her lifetime

Distribution

• Giraffes live in Savana countires where there are Acacia and climbing plants
• They are found in Africa South of the Sahara to Cape Town
• The reticulated giraffe is found in East Africa

Diet

• Giraffes are highly selective eaters
• They are herbavores
• They eat things such as;
• leaves, and shoots, of trees and shrubs