The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant. The average mass for an adult male giraffe is 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb) while the average mass for an adult female is 830 kilograms (1,800 lb).It is approximately 4.3 metres (14 ft) to 5.2 metres (17 ft) tall, Giraffe gestation lasts between 400 and 460 days (13-15 months).
The giraffe is related to other even-toed ungulates, such as deer and cattle, but is placed in a separate family, the Giraffidae, consisting of only the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi, and their extinct relatives. Both sexes have prominent horns, formed from ossified cartilage, and known as ossicones. The appearance of horns is a reliable method of identifying the sex of giraffes, with the females displaying tufts of hair on the top of the horns, whereas males' horns are larger and tend to be bald on top — the hairs worn away due to necking in combat. Males sometimes develop calcium deposits which form bumps on their skull as they age, which can give the appearance of up to three additional horns.
Giraffes also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs, and can reach a sprint speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph)The giraffe is briefly airborne when running.A single well-placed kick from an adult giraffe can kill a predator. Lions are the only predators which pose a serious threat to an adult giraffe. Most attacks on giraffes occur at watering holes, when the bent-over animals are at their most vulnerable and least attentive. Giraffes usually sleep standing up but do lie down occasionally. Giraffes also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs, and can reach a sprint speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph)
The giraffe is briefly airborne when running.A single well-placed kick from an adult giraffe can kill a predator. Lions are the only predators which pose a serious threat to an adult giraffe. Most attacks on giraffes occur at watering holes, when the bent-over animals are at their most vulnerable and least attentive. Giraffes usually sleep standing up but do lie down occasionally. While giraffes are usually found in groups, the composition of these groups is more fluid than in other social ungulates. They are a largely transient species with few strong social bonds and aggregations usually disband every few hours, although calving groups can last weeks to months. Giraffe groups can range from over 40 individuals to only a few individuals with the latter being more common. Female giraffes associate in groups of a dozen or so members, occasionally including a few younger males.
Calves and sub-adults are rarely alone. Giraffe groups with young tend to feed in more open areas, presumably to provide better visibility to detect predators. This may reduce their feeding efficiency. Reproduction is broadly polygamous, with a few older males impregnating the fertile females. Male giraffes determine female fertility by tasting the female's urine in order to detect estrus, in a multi-step process known as the Flehmen response. During courtship, dominant males will displace subordinates from the presence of the females, by staring and walking towards them. Thus the female prolongs the courtship process for as long as possible so only the most dominant male remains and copulation will follow. Although generally quiet and non-vocal, giraffes have been heard to communicate with various sounds. Courting males will emit loud coughs. Females will call their young by whistling or bellowing. Calves will bleat, moo, or make mewing sounds. In addition, giraffes will grunt, snort, hiss, or make strange flute-like sounds. The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which averages 4.5 or 4.6 hours per 24 hours. Giraffes browse on the twigs of trees, preferring trees of the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia, and also eat grass and fruit. The tongue, lips and palate are tough, which allows them to feed on trees with sharp thorns.Despite its long neck, the giraffe has only seven vertebrae, exactly the same number as man and most other mammals. Even though giraffes are often seen together in groups, they do not form the complex social groups of many plains species. Theirs are loose associations, constantly changing in make-up.
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