New Delhi: All types of animals with different shapes and sizes are found in the animal kingdom. This article is about the tallest animal in the world, the giraffe. They are one of the most loved animals. From their towering necks that stand out in the landscape to their coats that make them unmistakable, they are also the most beautiful animals in the world. Besides seeing the big cat family, most people always hope to check on the checklist if it is a giraffe. For such a world-renowned species, though, there are many facts about them that you may never have heard before.
Amazing facts about Giraffes
Giraffes boast the largest eyes among all the mammals you’ll spot on a safari!
Did you know that giraffes have really big eyes? Their eyes are even bigger than those of elephants, rhinos, and hippos. This unique feature allows giraffes to have fantastic vision in almost every direction, which helps them stay safe by watching for potential threats like lions while they’re out and about. Their large eyes also enable them to spot food from a distance, contributing to their survival in the wild.
Giraffes tongue
A giraffe’s tongue is 45-50 cm long and “prehensile,” which means it can twist and grip things. This feature is handy for picking delicious leaves out from thorns. Additionally, giraffes have mouth armour — their mouths are covered in hard, finger-like papillae to protect them from sharp thorns. And do you know what is the colour of a giraffe’s tongue? Well, it is dark blue. Giraffes stick their tongues out so much when grazing that a pink tongue would get sunburnt. Darker colours offer better protection in the harsh African sun.
Giraffe’s tongue is dark blue (Photo credit: Martin Harvey/The Image Bank/Getty Images)
Standing tall above all other creatures, giraffes are the tallest in the animal kingdom!
Giraffes hold the title of being the tallest land animals on Earth. When fully grown, these majestic creatures can reach towering heights of 4.3 – 5.7 meters. To put that into perspective, that’s taller than three grown men standing on each other’s shoulders. Even baby giraffes, though they may seem small compared to their mothers, are as tall as the average adult man when they are first born.
The head is roughly two metres above the heart
The giraffe’s unique anatomy challenges circulating blood throughout its body. With a head that can be 3.5 to 5.5 meters off the ground, the heart must maintain high blood pressure to pump blood to the head. Despite not being particularly large, the giraffe’s heart beats 170-180 beats per minute, about twice that of humans. This rapid beat ensures proper blood flow throughout the giraffe’s body.
Giraffes have the thickest skin of all land mammals
Giraffes have incredibly thick skin due to the high blood pressure within their bodies. This thick skin is a compression suit, preventing blood from pooling and reducing the risk of bleeding from small scratches. The giraffe’s capillaries are also thick-walled and inelastic to avoid blood loss. The skin of a giraffe is about 16 millimetres thick, which is more than double the thickness of elephant or hippo skin.
Do not drink much water!
Giraffes have evolved to adapt to the unique challenge of reaching water, as their necks are too short to reach the ground. They have developed the ability to spread their legs or kneel to access water, demonstrating their remarkable resilience. Additionally, their ability to obtain most of their hydration from their leafy diet showcases their amazing efficiency in obtaining essential fluids, allowing them to thrive despite their physical limitations.
Uses head for fighting
Male giraffes, who are also called bulls, swing their long necks and butt heads to see who is stronger. Giraffes engage in “necking” behaviour, which involves males competing by using their necks in combat. Despite the intense nature of this behaviour, most giraffes do not get hurt during necking. Eventually, one male will give up and walk away, likely to resume feeding.
Unique spots
Giraffes’ spots and skin patterns are unique, like humans’ fingerprints. No two giraffes have the same pattern. Surprisingly, giraffe spots assist with camouflage and thermoregulation.
Diet
People often wonder if a giraffe will eat an impala that it stands next to. It would never happen because giraffes are herbivores and mainly eat leaves. However, giraffes occasionally munch on old bones, especially during dry and harsh times. This behaviour, called osteophagia, allows giraffes to get more calcium. Other animals like wildebeest and tortoises also practice osteophagia; some even practice geophagia, which is eating soil to improve digestive abilities.
Giraffes mainly eat leaves, but during harsh times, they munch on old bones (Photo credit: Marc Rauw/Moment/Getty Images)
How do giraffes sleep?
Well, the answer to this is that they sleep while sitting down. Giraffes sleep for less than two hours daily in short intervals, mostly sitting with their head and neck up. They may briefly curl their neck around and place their head on the rump while resting, often in open areas where they feel safer. They also rest during rumination, which allows them to regurgitate food and re-chew it to maximise nutrients and moisture. This period enables them to rest and recover in a more relaxed state.
Giraffes are officially the tallest animals in the world and not just this, but they also have big eyes compared to other land mammals. Read on to learn more interesting facts about giraffes in this article. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
