10 Fun Facts About Giraffes

Giraffe by Stefan Krause from Wikimedia Commons

10 Fun Facts About Giraffes

Giraffes have many interesting facts. Some are more visible than others, such as the fact that they are the tallest animals on earth. However, I assume you already knew that.

The towering height and long necks of giraffes make them magnificent and unusual animals. They are indigenous to Africa and are members of the Giraffidae family. Giraffes are the tallest terrestrial animals in the world, at an average of 16 to 18 feet tall with a neck that may extend up to six feet in length. They are herbivores and mostly eat the leaves of big trees, reaching high branches with the help of their long necks.

But apart from their height, here are other 10 fun facts about giraffes. 

1. Giraffes are the tallest land animals

Giraffe by Hans Hillewaert from Wikimedia Commons

Giraffes stand 16–18 feet tall on average. Their lengthy necks, which are made up of seven cervical vertebrae, contribute to their unusual appearance and help people recognise them. Giraffes are herbivores and mostly eat the leaves of tall trees, which they can reach with their long necks.

They are renowned for their calm dispositions and distinctive, spotted coats. Giraffes can run gracefully and up to 35 mph despite their size. Because they are gregarious creatures, they frequently gather in groups called “towers” or “journeys.” 

2. Giraffes have a very long tongue

A giraffe’s tongue is exceptionally lengthy. The length of their tongue, which is astonishing for an animal with such a huge physique, can reach 45 cm (18 in). Because of their long tongues, giraffes can reach and gather the towering tree leaves that make up the majority of their meal.  In addition, the tongue is blue-black in hue, which helps shield it from sunlight while the giraffe reaches for food. 

3. Giraffes do not have any upper front teeth

giraffe by Faendalimas from Wikimedia Commons

Due to the lack of upper front teeth, giraffes may find it difficult to chew tough vegetation. Instead, they have a hard tongue and strong jaw muscles that enable them to grasp and crush their meal. Additionally, they have a distinctive method of chewing and grinding their food with their tongue and the roof of their mouth. Although giraffes lack upper front teeth, they are still able to maintain a varied and healthy diet, which is crucial to their general health and well-being.

4. Giraffes help maintain the balance of the African savanna ecosystem

Giraffes contribute to the dispersal of plant seeds throughout the savanna. They do this by eating the seeds and excreting them where they can sprout and spread to new locations. Additionally, giraffes contribute to the savanna ecosystem’s richness by influencing the distribution of plants, which can have a domino effect on other species.

For instance, the presence of giraffes can encourage the growth of other plant species and limit the overgrowth of particular plant species, which can then provide food and shelter for other animals.

5. Giraffes have some of the largest feet of all animals

Giraffe in Murchison by Kateregga1 from Wikimedia Commons

In relation to their size in the animal kingdom, giraffes have some of the biggest feet. Given the giraffe’s enormous size, their feet are astonishing, measuring up to 12 inches long and weighing up to 6 pounds apiece. To support their enormous bodies and aid with balance, they need feet that are huge and heavy.

Giraffes also have two toes on each foot, which helps them balance their weight and makes it easier for them to move on rough terrain. Giraffes’ feet are also covered with thick cushioning to shield them from the rocky ground and sharp objects. Overall, the capacity of giraffes to move and thrive in their natural habitat is greatly aided by their feet.

6. Giraffes can stay without drinking water for a really long time

Giraffes can go for months without drinking water because they get the majority of their hydration from the vegetation they eat. They possess a special capacity for water conservation and are able to draw the moisture they require from the leaves and stems of the plants they consume.

It’s crucial to remember that giraffes still require regular water intake, particularly in regions with few food supplies and little access to fresh water. They might travel great distances under such circumstances in search of water sources.

7. Giraffes sleep for only 5 to 30 minutes a day

Only 5 to 30 minutes a day, or 10 to 20 seconds at a time, are spent sleeping by giraffes. This is due to the fact that they are vulnerable to predators while they are sleeping and must constantly be on the lookout for danger.

Giraffes typically sleep standing up and only occasionally lie down to sleep when they feel secure, like in a herd or in a safe place. Giraffes are able to acquire the rest they require to preserve their vigour and health despite the little amount of time they spend sleeping.

8. Giraffes give birth while standing

Giraffes give birth while standing. A giraffe in labour would frequently seek out a secluded or protected spot where it feels secure. When the giraffe is ready to be delivered, it is ejected from the birth canal and falls roughly six feet to the ground. Although this procedure appears to be painful, the fall aids in the calf’s first breaths by clearing amniotic fluid from its lungs.

The mother giraffe will next clean the calf and assist it in standing up and taking its first steps. It’s significant to note that giraffe calf mortality is relatively high, with about 40% of calves dying in the first few months of life, primarily as a result of predation by lions, hyenas, and other predators.

9. Giraffe males are quite competitive

A behaviour known as “necking,” which is effectively a fight between two males, has been documented in giraffes. Male giraffes use necking to establish dominance over one another or to contend with a female for mating privileges.

Two men will stand next to each other and lightly butt heads during a necking competition. The giraffe’s strong neck and powerful cranium may make these battles rather forceful, despite the fact that it may appear to be a harmless prod.

The necking competition typically lasts for a short while and may take place numerous times throughout the day, at least until one of the males quits up or becomes obviously dominating. These competitions are an intriguing illustration of the distinctive behaviours and adaptations that giraffes have developed to help them thrive in their habitats.

10. Girrafes are social animals

Being social animals, giraffes frequently form groups, or herds, in the wild. Depending on the availability of food and water, giraffe herds may contain just a few animals or as many as 50.

When giraffes are together in a herd, they socialise, groom one another, and defend one another from potential predators. For giraffes, belonging to a herd offers various advantages, including enhanced safety from predators, access to a wider variety of food sources, and chances for socialising and mating.

You can also read Interesting Facts About Frogs