![]() ![]() That’s the same number of bones as a human neck, except their bones are much, much longer than ours. What’s even more fascinating about their elongated necks is that giraffes still only have seven neck vertebrae. Coming in at second place is the common ostrich at one meter. ![]() The giraffe is the last standing land mammal to evolve a super long neck since its ancestors of the Jurassic period.Ī male giraffe’s neck can reach almost three meters in length. The giraffe has a long neck with only seven vertebrae Giraffes only need to drink once every few days to survive in the African savanna. Luckily for giraffes, they don’t need to drink every day like us humans. They must awkwardly splay their forelegs and bend their knees before they can lower their necks to the ground for a drink. Yes, that’s right, this mighty mammal with the longest neck in the world can’t reach the watering hole for a slurp.Įven worse, giraffes can’t simply bend their necks forward. Can giraffes bend their necks?Ī giraffe’s neck is actually too short to reach the ground. Here are 21 facts about giraffes to impress your friends. Giraffes are elegant creatures: they amble around in the wild and bend down for a drink of water, admittedly with a little less grace. So, let’s take a look at some fun giraffe facts before you meet on your next adventure. It just wouldn’t be wild Africa without these gentle giants loping around the savannah. Imagine an African safari without getting a glimpse of a giraffe above the treetops. The great giraffe is a fascinating megafauna that holds an animal encyclopedia full of intriguing facts, with several quirky traits that may surprise you. Some are more obvious than others, like the fact that they are the tallest animals in the world. Picture of a baby giraffe: Photograph by Lukas Blazek, Dreamstime.There are many fun facts about giraffes. Picture of giraffe with baby: Photograph by Roman Murushkin, Dreamstime. ![]() Images ⓒ Getty Images: Giraffe and babies, (10014200). In captivity they live longer, and have been known to reach 40 years old. The result? Newborns are welcomed to the world with a 1.5m drop to the ground! Ouch! But these infants are quick to get on their feet – within 30 minutes they are standing, and only hours later they”re able to run with their mothers.ġ0) In the wild these beautiful creatures live for around 25 years. These fights aren’t usually dangerous, and end when one bull admits defeat and walks away.ĩ) Female giraffes give birth standing up. The other members are females and young males.Ĩ) To see who is stronger, males (called bulls) fight by butting their long necks and heads. These groups, called towers, typically have around 15 members led by an adult male. This is because they get most of their water from their leafy meals, and only need to drink once every few days.ħ) Giraffes are very social animals and roam around in groups. Their long tongues (which grow to a whopping 53cm!) also help them pull down leaves growing way up high.ĥ) And boy do these guys have an appetite! They spend most of their time eating, and can guzzle up to 45kg of leaves and twigs a day!ĭid you know that we have a FREE downloadable giraffe primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!Ħ) Whilst they may eat a lot, giraffes don’t drink much water. Their favourite grub is the acacia tree, and they use their long necks to reach the leaves and buds in the treetops. Their excellent eyesight allows them to spot hungry beasts from far away, too.Ĥ) Herbivores, giraffes only eat plants. ![]() Ask your parents to check out Nat Geo Kids magazine! (AD)ģ) A giraffe’s height is helpful for keeping a look out for predators, such as lions and hyenas. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |