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A
male giraffe can weigh as much as a pick up truck! That’s about 1400
kilograms.
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Although
a giraffe’s neck is 1.5 – 1.8 metres, it contains the same number of
vertebrae at a human neck.
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A
giraffe's habitat is usually found in African savannas, grasslands or open
woodlands.
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The
hair that makes up a giraffes tail is about 10 times thicker than the average
strand of human hair.
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The
distinctive spots that cover a giraffe’s fur act as a good camouflage to
protect the giraffe from predators. When the giraffe stands in front of trees
and bushes the light and dark colouring of its fur blends in with the shadows
and sunlight.
·
It
is possible to identify the sex of the giraffe from the horns on its head.
Both males and females have horns but the females are smaller and covered
with hair at the top. Male giraffes may have up to 3 additional horns.
·
Giraffes
are ruminants. This means that they have more than one stomach. In fact,
giraffes have four stomachs, the extra stomachs assisting with digesting
food.
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Drinking
is one of the most dangerous times for a giraffe. While it is getting a drink
it cannot keep a look out for predators and is vulnerable to attack.
·
Male
giraffes sometimes fight with their necks over female giraffes. This is
called “necking”. The two giraffes stand side by side and one giraffe swings
his head and neck, hitting his head against the other giraffe. Sometimes one
giraffe is hit to the ground during a combat.
·
A
female giraffe gives birth while standing up. The calf drops approximately 6
feet to the ground, but it is not hurt from the fall.
·
Giraffes
have bluish-purple tongues which are tough and covered in bristly hair to
help them with eating the thorny Acacia trees.
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