Males stand up to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 4,200 pounds. Females grow to 16 feet tall and weigh up to 2,500 pounds.
Giraffes have a furry skin with a pattern of reddish brown patches. They use their coloring to blend in with trees and grass. This defensive technique is called "camouflage."
Giraffes have long skinny legs and a very long neck. They also have horns that are nine inches long.
Giraffes are found only in Africa.
They live in open forests and grasslands where there are a lot of trees.
Giraffes' long limbs, necks, and tongues enable them to reach and eat leaves in trees—well above where other animals can reach. They get both food and water from leaves.
Giraffes only sleep deeply for a few minutes at a time. Sitting on the ground, they bend their long necks down until their heads rest on their hind legs.
Giraffes walk slowly through the grass by moving both legs on one side at the same time. At a full run, giraffes can reach a speed of up to 30 miles per hour.
Giraffes are the tallest land animal in the world.
Groups of giraffes are called herds.
Male giraffes are called bulls.
Females are called cows.
| To cite this page as a resource: |
| Giraffes, www.slpschools.org/aq, . |
Giraffes, http://tiger.coe.missouri.edu/%7Ekc41/giraffes.html#More_Wild_Animals, 5-2-2002.
For information, contact John Dyer, Media Specialist, Aquila Primary Center. |
|