Giraffe brief description. Giraffe - the biggest heart in the world

The giraffe is the tallest animal on our planet. The height of this majestic mammal can reach 6 meters. 1/3 of its height comes from its long neck. And the weight of an adult animal can exceed a ton.

Long neck the giraffe simply needs it in order to survive in the savannas of Africa. It would be logical to say that with the onset of drought, food became less available, and only those giraffes with a long neck could reach the tops of the trees. And accordingly, giraffes with short necks had hundreds of times less chances for survival and reproduction. But Namibian zoologist Rob Siemens suggests that giraffes' long necks are a consequence of neck battles between males. After all, the winner always has more attention from females, and accordingly he will have more offspring. It’s difficult to say who is right and who is wrong.

Despite the fact that the neck of giraffes reaches two meters in length, it has only 7 cervical vertebrae, just like a human. And when, during the rare hours of sleep, the giraffe decides to lie down, it rests its head on its back or hind leg for a long time. A giraffe sleeps only two hours a day. And he spends almost all his time on food (16-20 hours a day).

A female giraffe can be recognized not only by her height (she is shorter and lighter than the male), but also by her feeding style. Males, as leaders, always reach for leaves that are taller than their height, while females are content with what grows at the level of their heads.

Remove leaves from hard-to-reach branches tall tree The giraffe is helped not only by its neck, but also by its muscular tongue. After all, a giraffe can stretch it to 45 cm.

Interesting fact: two giraffes with the same color do not exist in nature; it is unique, just like a person’s fingerprint.

See the video about giraffes and the song: “The exquisite giraffe wanders.” Song performed by Zhanna Spitz based on poems by Nikolai Gumilyov.

Well, or watch the film: “Alone with nature - Giraffes.”

Narrated by: David Attenborough.

There is also a video for children: All about animals (Giraffes).

In conclusion, a few cool pictures:

International scientific name

Giraffa camelopardalis Linnaeus,

Subspecies

• Angolan giraffe ( G.c. angolensis)
• Somali giraffe ( G.c. camelopardalis)
• Ugandan giraffe ( G.c. rothschildi)
• Masai giraffe ( G.c. tippelskirchi)
• Reticulated giraffe ( G.c. reticulata)
• South African giraffe ( G.c. giraffae)

Area Security status

Taxonomy on Wikispecies

Images on Wikimedia Commons

ITIS NCBI EOL

Female giraffe with baby

Giraffes live alone or in small herds that are not particularly attached to each other. The area they travel around in search of food can be up to 100 km². Social behavior depends on gender: females adhere to herds of 4 to 32 individuals, in which the composition changes from time to time. The hierarchical structures and behavior of giraffes in a herd are not yet fully understood. Young males also form small separate groups until they reach sexual maturity, after which they begin to live alone. Giraffes often move with herds of antelopes or zebras, as this gives them greater safety. When two adult males meet, it often comes down to a ritual duel, in which they stand next to each other and try to headbutt the opponent’s neck. During mating periods, fights between males are more aggressive in nature and can reach such desperation that one of the competitors may eventually be “beaten” until he loses consciousness. An option for a showdown could be a duel near a tree, in which everyone tries to get around their opponent in such a way as to pin him to the trunk. There were no cases of giraffes using their dangerous front hooves against each other, as they usually do against predators.

It is widely believed that giraffes are voiceless animals. However, in reality they communicate with each other at frequencies below 20 Hz, inaudible to the human ear.

The mating season usually lasts from July to September, and the gestation period is 14-15 months. As a rule, only one cub is born. Birth occurs in a standing position, so the first thing a newborn will experience is a fall from a height of two meters. Immediately after birth, the baby giraffe reaches 1.8 m in height and 50 kg. After just an hour, the cub stands firmly on its feet and after a few hours begins to run. However, cubs are allowed into the herd only after two to three weeks. The offspring stays with the mother for about a year and a half. At the age of four the giraffe reaches sexual maturity, at the age of six it reaches full height. IN wildlife Life expectancy is about 25 years, in captivity about 35.

Due to its size, the giraffe has little natural enemies, and from those few predators that dare to attack him, he defends himself quite effectively with blows from his front hooves. Such a blow can crush the skull of any predator. In the Etosha Game Reserve, lions were once observed jumping on a giraffe and biting its neck. However, attacks on adult giraffes are still rare. More often, young animals become prey for lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs. Despite maternal protection, only 25-50% of young giraffes reach adulthood.

Giraffe and man

North African populations were already hunted in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans. Sometimes giraffes were even used for displays in the Colosseum. In general, the giraffe was little known in Europe. Although the constellation Giraffe exists in the northern hemisphere, it is a relatively new convention and has no mythological origin. In black Africa, giraffes were hunted by digging holes and traps. Their long sinews were used to string bows and strings musical instruments, clothing made from giraffe skin served as a symbol of high status among many peoples. Giraffe meat is tough, but edible. The hunting of giraffes by African tribes has never reached a scale that could seriously threaten their numbers. With the arrival of white settlers, the main motive for hunting giraffes became entertainment, and the number of giraffes began to decline sharply. Today, giraffes are rare animals almost everywhere. Only in states East Africa Numerous populations still exist. The total number of giraffes is estimated at 110,000-150,000. There are about 13 thousand individuals in the Serengeti Nature Reserve. In general, giraffes are not considered a critically endangered species. Today they are kept in many large zoos around the world and successfully breed in captivity.

Subspecies

Reticulated giraffes

Based on their patterns and places of origin, giraffes are divided into subspecies. Crossbreeding is possible between individual subspecies. There are nine modern subspecies:

• Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis), eastern Sudan, western Ethiopia
• Giraffa camelopardalis peralta Thomas, 1898 – West African giraffe, formerly all of West Africa, today only in Chad
• Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum), western Sudan, Central African Republic
• Reticulated giraffe (G. c. reticulata), northern Kenya, southern Somalia
• Ugandan giraffe (G. c. rothschildi), Uganda
• Masai giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi), southern Kenya, Tanzania
• Thornicroft's giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti), Zambia
• Angolan giraffe (G. c. angolensis), Namibia, Botswana
• South African giraffe (G. c. giraffa), South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

The Ugandan giraffe has brown, large, irregularly shaped spots separated by wide white stripes. The Maasai giraffe's spots are smaller and darker, and approximately five-pointed. The reticulated giraffe's spots are unique, being dark and polygonal. Narrow white stripes run between them, creating the impression of a grid. Some of the subspecies are endangered: the first three in particular have become extremely rare. The Angolan giraffe was exterminated in Angola, the country after which it was named.

Initially, subspecies of giraffes were considered independent species. Then this point of view was rejected, and scientists debated the delimitation of individual subspecies. There are often differences in pattern even within closely related herds. Therefore, some researchers were of the opinion that the characteristics of giraffe subspecies are not hereditary (and therefore, true geographical subspecies do not exist). In addition to the above subspecies, in North Africa in ancient times there were some subspecies that no longer exist today. Since some ancient Egyptian images show giraffes without spots, it has been suggested that the North African subspecies were uniformly colored and unpatterned. There are, however, also images of giraffes with spots that call such assumptions into question.

In 2007, an article was published where, based on molecular data (study of mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite sequences of nuclear DNA), the existence of at least six species of giraffes, almost completely reproductively isolated in nature (Giraffa peralta, G. rothschildii, G. reticulata, G tippelskirchi, G. giraffa, G. angolensis). This is the first reported case of such strong genetic differentiation among closely related species. large mammals in the absence of serious geographical barriers.

It is important because we all understand that the structure of the body depends on the conditions in which it was formed. Scientists have found that giraffes appeared in the world more than twenty-five million years ago. Their remains are found almost throughout Eurasia and Africa. But living giraffes in nature can be seen far from everywhere where they grazed at the dawn of history.

Distribution area

Today giraffes live in Africa. Populations in its eastern part are more numerous. In the southwestern regions the animal has been mostly exterminated, although a few groups are still found in the steppes. The total hunting to which giraffes were subjected led to the fact that they can be seen in places where they had not previously grazed. So, some sources claim that they can be found to the west. This is not a very common place for them. In addition, giraffes travel to Chad, Sudan or Zambia. It is no longer possible to meet them in other territories. Thus, it turns out that in natural conditions Giraffes live only in Africa.

Giraffe habitat

There are several subspecies of this animal. This division is related to where giraffes live. So, it is very different from the steppe. And those that grazed in the mountains adapted to the terrain in their own way. The fact is that the body structure of this miracle of nature allows it to get food from high altitude. Some individuals can reach six meters in height. Since the animal eats only fresh shoots and leaves, it lives precisely where such vegetation exists. The giraffe grabs part of the plant with its tongue and plucks it off. This organ is highly developed and is comparable in functionality to an elephant’s trunk. While studying where giraffes live, scientists were surprised to discover that they do not shy away from the steppe terrain.

Structural features

Their neck is known to be long. Judging by appearance, one might assume that its structure is different from other mammals. Only it's not like that. The giraffe has seven vertebrae, like everyone else. Therefore, it seems impossible for these animals to eat the grass growing under their hooves. However, at a time when there is no fresh growth left on the trees, the giraffe in the savannah enjoys fresh grass. It is not easy for animals to drink or collect food from the ground. They bend their front legs and practically lie on the ground. So you can pinch some grass and drink some water.

Do these animals drink often?

Are you studying where giraffes live? It is quite natural to ask about the need for moisture for the proper implementation of all processes in their bodies. It is clear that in Africa, most regions are exceptionally arid. Giraffes feel great there. They satisfy most of their water needs from the moisture found in food (up to 74%). Therefore, they are often found in arid areas. Animals can easily do without watering for up to several days. They roam the area in small groups (five to six individuals) in search of pastures. It must be said that giraffes are not at all defenseless, as one might think.

Sense organs in times of danger

Giraffes have very good vision, and the neck helps increase visibility of the area. The animal notices the hunter at a distance of at least two kilometers. If danger approaches, the animals gather in a large herd. Males, whose weight is significant, make excellent use of their hooves to ward off predators. From their blow, even a lion can be left not only without dinner, but also without life.

Giraffes also have sensitive hearing. If any sound seems dangerous, they may flee. Despite their apparent clumsiness, animals can develop good speed. They run in large leaps (up to five meters). It is interesting that shorter animals (zebras, okapi) have adapted to using long-necked ones as guards. Due to its growth, the giraffe sees danger faster than anyone else. Where this animal lives, there is protection from predators. If “toothed death” is nearby, then everyone runs away together.

How to get used to the heat?

Everyone adapts to life in one way or another high temperature air. Giraffes have their own traditions in this regard. They graze at dawn and early morning. When does it start heatwave, relaxing in the shade, chewing gum. The light sand-colored skin allows it not to overheat under the influence of sunlight.

Animals do not suffer from heat. In addition, they are considered very hardy. Nineteenth-century hunters believed (with good reason) that during a long chase, the horse was the first to tire. And the giraffes continue their graceful run. By the way, all their movements look like they are in slow motion. All giraffes are long. He carefully coordinates their movements. Therefore, the step turns out to be somehow cosmic: long and multidimensional. When running, the giraffe helps itself by moving its neck.

How giraffes sleep

It would seem that it would not be so easy for an animal with the same neck to adapt to rest. But that's not true. At night, giraffes lie down on their bellies. They bend their limbs under themselves and try to hold their heads high. But during sleep, the neck can bend, then the back of the head rests against the back of the animal. Giraffes often jump to their feet to check the “security level”. This is quite reasonable, since predators hunt at night. Children are often the victims. The older generation protects them in the first year of life. Interestingly, giraffes can gather young animals from different families into groups, forming a kind of nursery.

This makes it easier to keep an eye on them.

Can he live in captivity?

The first giraffes appeared in Europe more than three hundred years ago. But they could not exist in captivity for long. They developed a bone problem called giraffe disease. Most likely, animals need constant movement. In its absence, the skeletal system suffers. When people learned to properly care for these amazing animals, they had the opportunity to study the characteristics of their reproduction. So, it turned out that the fetus develops in forty-three days. The most amazing thing was the birth. The cub, when born, falls from almost two meters in height. Moreover, its mass can reach sixty kilograms. The baby does not suffer from such extreme conditions. About half an hour later he gets up. Then he approaches his mother to enjoy the milk. He can eat adult food after three weeks.

The giraffe is a mammal that belongs to the order Artiodactyla, family Giraffidae. Latin name Giraffa camelopardalis. Of the hired animal species, it is the tallest. There are several species of giraffes that live in different places And climatic zones, what determines how much a giraffe weighs and its color.

The height of giraffes reaches up to 5.7 m, of which 3.3 m is from the body to the shoulders, 2.4 m is from the neck to the horns. Males are larger than females, which are smaller on average by 1 m. Males weigh 1500-1900 kg, females - up to 1200. A newborn cub weighs 50-55 kg, height is 2 m. Life expectancy - 25 years in a zoo, 10-15 years in the wild.

Because of tall the load on the heart muscle increases and vascular system animal. Giraffes have a strong heart, reaching a weight of up to 12 kg. In 1 minute it is capable of moving up to 60 liters of blood, the pressure on the walls of blood vessels is 3 times higher than the human norm.

They have thick skin covered with a coat of short hairs. Lengthening of the fur is noticeable only on the mane, back, forehead and tail brush. The main color is little noticeable, most of the body is covered with spots. The coloring of the coat is different for each species, depending on the area. The spots vary in size, color, location on the body, and number. Shades of spots range from yellow to black. The coat pattern obtained during intrauterine development remains unchanged throughout life. Small spots on the long neck and legs, absent on the ventral abdomen and inner legs.

The giraffe's legs are thin but strong, the front ones are longer than the back ones. The long neck also consists of 7 cervical vertebrae, the size of which is longer than usual. The back is sloping and ends thin long tail 100 cm. The tassel-shaped tip of the tail is necessary equipment for protection against insects. On the head there are 2 horns of 15 cm each with tassels at the end. They are formed from bone tissue, covered with skin and hair, is thinner in females than in males. Another bony growth is located in the middle of the forehead, which is not a horn.

The tongue of giraffes is black, large and long, which helps with feeding, and the muzzle is long and elongated. Reaches a length of up to 45 cm - this is necessary for obtaining food. The giraffe feeds on leaves from trees, which it grabs from the upper branches using its tongue.

Types of giraffes

Only with the help of genetic analysis of almost 200 giraffes from different groups was it possible to establish that there are 4 separate species of these mammals. Previously it was believed that there was 1 species and 9 different subspecies. The variety depends on the location; the main habitat is Africa. Each region has a specific subspecies, there are 9 subspecies in total.

1. Nubian giraffe. The habitat is in eastern Sudan and western Ethiopia. Dark coat color, spots Brown with bordered white lines. Large bony growth on the forehead.
2. Rothschild's giraffe or Ugandan giraffe lives in Uganda. Has spots large sizes brown with white stripes between them.
3. Somali or reticulated giraffe. Habitat: northern Kenya and southern Somalia. This subspecies is distinguished by its beautiful color, with bright brown-red spots of medium size. Every spot ends with a sharp edge white. The bone growth in females is completely absent.
4. The Angolan giraffe inhabits the countries of Namibia and Botswana. The wool is colored with large elongated spots. The origin of this subspecies occurred in Angola, but now the population in the country has been destroyed.
5. Kordofan giraffe from the western regions of Sudan and Central Africa. A special feature is the unevenly located spots, which are more numerous in the lower part of the legs and joints.
6. The Masai giraffe, a species that has dark spots only on its legs, has unusual shape, like a star.
7. South African giraffe from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The coat color is golden in color, with dark round spots.
8. Thorneycroft's giraffe - lives in Zambia. Light-colored coat with dark spots irregular shape with sharp corners.
9. The West African giraffe is a small subspecies that is protected from extinction. All surviving individuals number 175 giraffes, living only in the state of Chad.

The height of each giraffe subspecies differs slightly from the others.

Previously, varieties were taken for independent species. This was led by the facts of the sharp difference in the spots and growth of giraffes. Different color patterns exist even among the same subspecies and family. There is a theory that suggests the existence of giraffes with uniform coat color without spots.

Where do giraffes live?

Giraffes as a separate species appeared in Central Asia, then spread to the countries of Africa and Europe. The distribution range of giraffes is from 5 to 654 km² and depends on the source of water and food. The permanent habitat of giraffes is the African continent.

Territorially distributed from the southern lands of the Sahara Desert to the eastern Transvaal and northern Botswana. Previously, animals lived in West Africa, but all species have disappeared. In this part, giraffes live in the Niger Republic thanks to the restored population from artificial reserves.

An arid climate is satisfactory for this group of mammals. Populations are found in savannas, grasslands and rare forests. For the place of formation of the herd, territories with big amount acacias suitable for their nutrition. Giraffes are not very dependent on the source of water, since they drink little. Males leave the herd in search of deciduous habitats.

Now they are creating for giraffes favorable conditions in nature reserves of Australia, Europe, Asia, America.

Nutrition and lifestyle

Giraffes lead social image life, live in large open herds. In one herd there are on average 10-20 individuals, the maximum recorded number of inhabitants reached 70 animals. A giraffe can join or leave the herd voluntarily, at its own discretion. These mammals are considered to be very fast, reaching speeds of up to 60 km per hour and covering long distances.

Giraffes rest at night in a standing position, taking a certain position. The animal lowers its head onto its hind leg, and its neck takes the shape of a small arch. The supine position during sleep is rarely accepted. The eyes are not completely closed, slightly open, the ears twitch normally. They have the minimum need for sleep duration of all mammals - about 2 hours per day.

To establish their superiority in the pack, fights are organized. Adult males participate in the fight. Sparring begins with walking next to each other, horizontal necks pointing forward. Then the necks are intertwined, the heads are leaned close to each other - this is necessary to assess the strength of the enemy. After the assessment, a blow to the neck and head is applied. The impact is severe and some giraffes are knocked down and severely injured.

Giraffes are ruminant mammals with a four-chambered stomach that feed plant foods. Most of the day - up to 20 o'clock - is spent eating. The main diet consists of the following products:

• tree leaves;
• flowers;
• seeds;
• fruits.

They obtain minerals from the soil of the savannah. Among the trees that are used are the leaves of acacia senegalese, mimosa pudica, combretum parviflora, and apricots. During long journeys, they can remain for a long time without eating, replacing it with chewing gum. Preference is given to acacia leaves. To tear off leaves, the giraffe pulls up and bends a tree branch, grabbing it with its mouth, and tears off the leaves with its lips. The presence of thorns does not prevent acacia from being eaten; the giraffe's molars are capable of grinding them in the process of absorption along with the leaves. Females are selective in choosing trees; they prefer high-calorie leaves, obtaining them from the lower branches.

An adult animal consumes 65 kg of food per day. In a critical situation during drought, a giraffe needs to reduce its diet to 7 kg of food per day to survive. They can consume up to 35 liters of liquid at one time.

Reproduction

This species is polygamous. During the mating season, the male begins to court the female. It starts with analyzing the smell of urine. After assessing the female, the male rubs his head against her rump, then lays his head on his back. The next stage of courtship is licking the tail of the chosen one. The male then throws his front paw over her back. If the female has responded positively to the courtship, she raises her tail to mate. During the rainy season, offspring are conceived. Gestation lasts 450 days on average.

Females give birth in dry seasons from May to August. Giraffes reproduce every 20-30 months. Delivery begins in a standing position or while moving. A baby giraffe is called a calf and is born 2 m tall. After 15 minutes, the newborn baby is already sucking mother's milk and gradually stands on its feet. At first, for 7-10 days, the foal hides during the day and at night. The close stay of a female cub with its mother lasts up to 12-16 months. Males stay with their mother for 2 months less. Sexual maturity occurs in males at 4-5 years of age; they begin to reproduce at 7 years of age upon reaching sexual maturity. Young females mature earlier - at 3-4 years, but begin to reproduce later.

At birth, a giraffe does not have horns, instead there is only cartilage. As the calf grows, the cartilage ossifies, taking the shape of horns. The black fur covering the forehead also disappears.

In a herd, females are social. They organize collective supervision of their common cubs. After the foal is weaned from its mother after 4 weeks, one female looks after the cubs of the entire herd during the day, which is periodically replaced. The remaining females are free and can travel long distances, and all children remain under supervision and protection from wild animals. The cubs return at night to feed.

Role in the ecosystem

Giraffes have great importance in the planet's ecosystem. Many species are protected by conservation organizations. Interaction also occurs with other animals and birds. Buff starlings consist of mutually beneficial relationships with large mammals. They clean the back and neck of giraffes from ticks and insects with their beaks. At the same time, the birds receive the necessary nutrients.

Relationships with humans are not vital to animal populations. Giraffes in nature reserves and zoos, with the necessary care, live longer than in the wild. Poachers hunted giraffes for their meat, skin, and tails. Household items were made from the skin: whips, reins, belts, upholstery. The ancient Greeks and Romans staged displays of these animals in the Colosseums to entertain the public. The population of these mammals is protected in the eastern and South Africa, but decreased in the western regions of the continent. The total number of subspecies is 150 thousand individuals.

Giraffes are threatened by wild animals and poachers. On land they are hunted by lions, leopards, and hyenas. Near bodies of water during watering hours they are defenseless from attacks by crocodiles. Only large adult individuals are capable of defending themselves; young ones are often attacked. Its impressive size can scare off predators. The hooves of the front legs can deliver heavy blows, which is the self-defense of giraffes. One strong blow can break the skull bone of a not very large animal.

Giraffes are inhabitants of zoos. Correct conditions maintenance benefits the animals and prolongs their lifespan.

- This is one of the most unusual animals on the planet.

In addition to its unique appearance, it has parameters unusual for a mammal:

• height – from 5 to 6 meters;
• weight from 500 kg to 2 tons;
• reaches speeds of up to 60 km/h;
• bears cubs from 13 to 15 months;
• sleeps 4.5 hours a day.

The longest neck in the world.

This is the tallest animal in the world. By the way, a third of his entire height is occupied by his neck. But, oddly enough, it, like all mammals, has 7 vertebrae. And the length of one vertebra can reach 25 cm.

This one has a long tongue!

The animal’s tongue is very surprising: it reaches almost half a meter in length. A giraffe can even clean its ears with this tongue, not to mention grab food.

Unique coloring.

The color of the animal is also amazing. Nowhere in the world will you find two giraffes with the same coloring: it is unique for each animal.

Oh, those legs.

The giraffe has very long and thin legs. However, this does not stop him from running fast and even jumping one and a half meters high. Only the giraffe avoids bodies of water: they have not yet submitted to him.

Sleeping standing up is easy.

Giraffes can sleep either standing or lying down. They tuck their legs under them and rest their heads on their body. The giraffe sleeps intermittently. Throughout the night he gets up from time to time to drink or eat something.

Where does the giraffe live?

The giraffe can only be found in the savannas of Africa; it does not live in other parts of the world. It consumes little water, so it easily survives in the south of the Sahara, in open forests.

Favorite food.

The giraffe is a herbivore. He eats tree leaves and bush branches well, but his favorite food is acacia. He spends almost all his waking hours eating. Every day the giraffe eats 30 kg of vegetation. But he rarely drinks, but can easily drink 30 liters of water at a time.

Baby giraffes.

Giraffes are prone to loneliness and rarely form flocks. One male can fertilize many females, but he jealously guards his territory. The female carries the cub for 1 - 1.3 years. Cubs are born during the dry season, but because giraffes give birth standing up, they fall from a height of 2 meters. The weight of the cub reaches 100 kg, height - 1.5 meters. They live with their mother until they are 1.5 years old and then leave her.

• In freedom, a giraffe lives 25 years, in captivity - 35 years.
• By the way, giraffes amble. The front and rear right ones are transferred first, and then the left ones.
• A giraffe usually grows 2 horns. But there are individuals who develop as many as 5!
• Giraffes can talk to each other. But their voices are elusive to human hearing.

Giraffe brief information.