A giraffe has a stubborn nature or not. Where do giraffes live? What is the habitat of giraffes and how do they adapt to it? Features of the body structure of a giraffe

Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis- artiodactyl mammal from the giraffe family (Giraffidae). The tallest land animal on earth.

Description

The giraffe is the tallest land mammal on the planet. Males reach a height of 5.7 meters from the ground to the horns: 3.3 meters to the shoulders and the neck rises to 2.4 meters. Females are 0.7-1 meter shorter than males. The weight of the male is about 1930 kg, and that of the female is 1180 kg. The cub is born with a weight of 50 - 55 kg and a height of about 2 meters.

Giraffes of both sexes are spotted. It varies depending on the habitat. All nine subspecies have different patterns. Giraffe spots can be small, medium, or large. The color of the spots varies from yellow to black. Throughout the life of a giraffe, the pattern remains unchanged. But depending on the season and the health of the animal, the color of the coat can be changed.

The giraffe has long and strong legs. At the same time, the front legs are longer than the hind legs. The neck consists of seven elongated vertebrae. The back of giraffes is sloping, the tail is thin and long, about 76-101 cm. The black tassel at the end of the tail is used by animals to get rid of annoying flies and other flying insects. Giraffe horns are bony protrusions covered in skin and fur. The horns of females are thin and have tassels. In males, they are thick, and the coat is smoothed. A bony outgrowth is often found on the forehead, which is mistaken for the middle horn. Their eyes are large, and their tongue is black and about 45 cm long for better capture of food from the very tops of trees.

area

Africa is the birthplace of giraffes. They are mainly distributed from the south of the Sahara to the east of the Transvaal and in the northern part of Botswana. Giraffes have disappeared from most habitats in West Africa, with the exception of the remaining population in the Republic of Niger, which has been reintroduced from reserves in South Africa.

Habitat

Giraffes live in arid regions of Africa. They prefer areas with a lot of growing acacia. They can be found in savannahs, woodlands and meadows. Since giraffes drink only occasionally, they live in arid lands far from water sources. Males tend to travel to more wooded areas in search of foliage.

Giraffes are not territorial animals. Their habitat range varies from 5 to 654 square kilometers, depending on the availability of water and food sources.

reproduction

Giraffes are polygamous animals. Males carefully protect their females from other males. Courtship begins from the moment the male approaches the female and analyzes her urine. Then the male rubs his head next to the sacrum of his chosen one and puts his head on her back to rest. He licks the tail of the female and raises his front paw. If the female accepted the courtship, she bypasses the male and holds her tail for the mating position, after which the copulation process itself takes place.

Conception falls during the rainy season, and the birth of young occurs during the dry months. Most births take place from May to August. Females breed every 20-30 months. The duration of pregnancy is about 457 days. Females give birth standing up or while walking. The cub is born with a height of about 2 meters. Most often, one calf is born; twins occur, but very rarely. Newborns stand up and begin to suckle milk fifteen minutes after birth. The cubs hide for most of the day and night during their first week of life. The period of stay of a female cub next to its mother lasts 12-16 months, and a male cub - 12-14 months. The period of independence varies by gender. Females tend to stay in the herd. However, males live alone until the moment they have their own herd, where they can become dominant males. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 3-4 years, but do not breed for at least one year. At the age of 4-5 years, males become sexually mature. However, before reaching the age of seven, they do not breed.

3-4 weeks after birth, females send their offspring to the nursery. This allows mothers to leave their young for long distances to get food and drink. Mother giraffes take turns watching the young in a group. Thanks to such groups, females have the opportunity to move away at distances of about 200 meters. But before dark, they return to the calves to feed them with milk and protect them from nocturnal predators.

Lifestyle

Giraffes are social animals that live in free, open herds. The number of individuals is from 10 to 20, although cases have been recorded and 70 individuals in one herd. Individuals can join or leave the herd at will. Herds consist of females, males and cubs of different sexes and ages. Females are more socialized than males.

Giraffes consume food and water in the morning and evening. These mammals rest at night in a standing position. When resting, their head rests on the hind leg and forms an impressive arch together with the neck. They sleep standing up, but sometimes they can lie down. The eyes of giraffes are half-closed while resting, and their ears twitch. On a hot afternoon, they usually chew gum, but they may do so during the day.

Adult males establish their superiority during a duel. Sparring takes place between two males. Males walk toe-to-toe with each other, their necks pointing forward in a horizontal position. They intertwine their necks and heads, lean against each other to assess the strength of their opponent. Then the giraffes get close and start hitting the enemy with their neck and head. Their blow is quite heavy and can knock down and injure the enemy.

Giraffes are fast moving mammals that can reach speeds of 32 to 60 km/h and run impressive distances.

Lifespan

Giraffes have a lifespan of 20 to 27 years in zoos and 10 to 15 years in the wild.

Communication and perception

Giraffes rarely make sounds and are therefore considered quiet or even mute mammals. They communicate with their own kind using infrasound. Sometimes they can make sounds similar to grunting or whistling. When alarmed, a giraffe may snort or grunt to warn nearby giraffes of danger. Mothers whistle to their calves. In addition, females search for lost cubs with the help of a roar. Calves respond to their mothers by bleating or meowing. During courtship, males may make cough-like sounds.

The giraffe has good visibility due to its height. This allows the animals to maintain continuous visual contact even at great distances from the herd. Keen vision helps the giraffe to see a predator from a distance in order to have time to prepare for an attack.

Eating Habits

Giraffes feed on leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruits. In areas where the surface of the savannah is salty or full of minerals, they eat the soil. Giraffes are ruminants. They have a four-chambered stomach. Chewing gum while traveling helps increase the time between feedings.

They have long tongues, narrow snouts, and flexible upper lips that help reach leaves from tall trees. Giraffes feed on the foliage of various trees, including Senegalese acacia, bashful mimosa, small-flowered combretum and apricot. The main food is acacia leaves. Giraffes take a branch of a tree into their mouths and, arching their heads, tear off the leaves. Acacia has thorns, but the animal's molars grind them with ease. During the day, an adult male consumes up to 66 kg of food. However, with a lack of food, a giraffe can survive on only 7 kg of food per day.

Males usually forage at the height of their head and neck. Females feed on leaves growing at the height of their body and knees, crowns of lower trees and shrubs. Females are more selective in feeding, they choose leaves with the highest calorie content.

Threats from wild animals

They are the main threat to giraffes. Leopards and hyenas have also been seen hunting giraffes. Adults are quite capable of defending themselves. They remain alert and are capable of delivering lightning-fast and deadly blows with their hooves. Near bodies of water, giraffes can become prey to crocodiles. Most predators target young, sick, or elderly individuals. Spotted coloration gives them good camouflage.

Role in the ecosystem

In many zoos and reserves, giraffes bring in good profits by attracting visitors. Previously, these mammals were killed for meat and skin, as well as for entertainment. Buckets, reins, whips, belts for harnesses, and sometimes for musical instruments were made from thick skin.

conservation status

The population of giraffes in some parts of their range was stable for a long time, while in others it was exterminated. Giraffes were hunted for their valuable meat, hide and tail. The population is still widespread in eastern and southern Africa, but has declined sharply in West Africa. In the Republic of Niger, conservation of the giraffe population has become a priority. Elsewhere, where large mammals have disappeared, giraffes have survived. This was due to a decrease in competition with other animals.

Subspecies

The distribution by subspecies includes the territorial location of these mammals and the pattern on the body. To date, there are nine subspecies of giraffes:

Nubian giraffe

Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis) lives in the eastern part of South Sudan and in southwestern Ethiopia. Giraffes of this subspecies have distinctive chestnut spots surrounded by mostly white lines. The bony growth on the forehead is more pronounced in males. There are thought to be around 250 giraffes left in the wild, although these numbers have not been confirmed. Nubian giraffes are difficult to find in captivity, although a small group is located at the Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates. In 2003, the group consisted of 14 individuals.

reticulated giraffe

reticulated giraffe (G. c. reticulata), it is also known as the Somali giraffe. Its homeland is the northeast of Kenya, the south of Ethiopia and Somalia. It has a distinctive pattern on its body, which consists of spiky, reddish-brown polygonal spots separated by a network of thin white lines. Spots can be located below the hock, and a bony growth on the forehead is present only in males. It is estimated that there are a maximum of 5,000 individuals in the wild, and about 450 in zoos.

Angolan giraffe

Angolan giraffe or Namibian (G. c. angolensis), lives in the northern part of Namibia, in the southwest of Zambia, in Botswana and in the west of Zimbabwe. A genetic study of this subspecies suggests that the northern Namibian desert and Etosha National Park populations constitute a separate subspecies. It is characterized by the presence of large brown spots on the body with teeth or elongated corners. Drawings are distributed along the entire length of the legs, but are absent in the upper part of the face. The neck and sacrum has a small amount of spots. The subspecies has a white patch of skin in the ear area. According to recent estimates, a maximum of 20,000 animals remain in the wild and about 20 are in zoos.

giraffe kordofan

giraffe kordofan (G. c. antiquorum) distributed in southern Chad, in the Central African Republic, northern Cameroon and the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Cameroon giraffe population was previously assigned to another subspecies, the West African, but this was an erroneous opinion. Compared to Nubian giraffes, this subspecies has more uneven spotting. Their spots can be located below the hocks and on the insides of the legs. A bony growth on the forehead is present in males. It is estimated that about 3000 individuals live in the wild. Considerable confusion exists regarding the status of this and the West African subspecies in zoos. In 2007, all supposed West African giraffes were in fact Kordofan giraffes. Given these amendments, there are about 65 Kordofan giraffes in zoos.

Masai giraffe

Masai giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi), also known as the Kilimanjar giraffe, lives in central and southern parts of Kenya and Tanzania. This subspecies has its own distinctive, unevenly distributed, jagged, star-shaped spots that are found on the legs. Most often, a bone growth on the forehead occurs in males. About 40,000 giraffes remain in the wild, and about 100 giraffes are in zoos.

Rothschild giraffe

Rothschild giraffe (G. c. rothschildi), so named after Walter Rothschild, also known as the baringo giraffe or Ugandan giraffe. Its range includes parts of Uganda and Kenya. Giraffes of this subspecies have large dark spots that have smooth contours, but sharp edges are also found. Dark spots may have lighter lines. Spots rarely extend below the hock and almost never reach the hooves. Less than 700 individuals remain in the wild and over 450 Rothschild giraffes live in zoos.

South African giraffe

South African giraffe (G. c. giraffa) lives in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and southwestern Mozambique. The subspecies is characterized by the presence of dark, slightly rounded spots on the reddish color of the skin. The spots spread down the legs and become smaller in size. About 12,000 South African giraffes live in the wild and 45 in captivity.

Rhodesian giraffe

Rhodesian giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti), also has the name Thornycroft's giraffe, after Harry Scott Thornycroft bounded the Luangwa Valley in eastern Zambia. It has jagged spots and a few star-shaped spots that sometimes extend to the legs. The bony outgrowth on the forehead in males is underdeveloped. No more than 1,500 individuals remain in the wild.

West African giraffe

West African giraffe (G. c. peralta) also known as the Niger or Nigerian subspecies, it is endemic to the southwestern part of the Republic of Niger. Giraffes of this subspecies have a lighter coat than other subspecies. The spots on the body are lobe-shaped and extend below the hock. Males have a well-developed bony outgrowth on the forehead. This subspecies has the smallest population, less than 220 individuals left in. Cameroonian giraffes were previously classified as this subspecies, but in fact, they were Kordofan giraffes. This error has led to some confusion in the population count of the subspecies, but in 2007 it was determined that all West African giraffes found in European zoos are actually Kordofan giraffes.

Video: Male Giraffe Fight

The giraffe is a mammal that belongs to the artiodactyl order, the giraffidae family. The Latin name is Giraffa camelopardalis. Of the hired species of animals is the highest. There are several types of giraffes that live in different places and climatic zones, which determine how much a giraffe weighs and its color.

The growth of giraffes reaches up to 5.7 m, of which 3.3 m is the body to the shoulders, 2.4 m falls on the neck of 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.

Due to the high growth, the load on the heart muscle and the vascular system of the animal increases. The heart of giraffes is strong, reaching a mass of up to 12 kg. In 1 minute it can drive up to 60 liters of blood, the pressure on the walls of blood vessels is 3 times higher than the human norm.

They have a thick skin covered with short hairs. The elongation of the coat is noticeable only on the mane, back, forehead and tail tassel. The main color is hardly noticeable, most of the body is covered with spots. The color of the coat is different for each species, depending on the range. Spots vary in size, color, location on the body, number. Shades of spots are from yellow to black. The pattern of wool obtained during fetal development remains unchanged throughout life. Small spots on the long neck and legs, absent on the ventral part of the abdomen and the inner surface of the legs.

The legs of a giraffe 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, ending in a thin long tail 100 cm long. The tip of the tail in the form of a brush is a necessary adaptation for protection against insects. On the head there are 2 horns 15 cm each with tassels at the end. They are formed from bone tissue covered with skin and hair, thinner in females than in males. Another bone outgrowth 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 nutrition, the muzzle is long, elongated. It reaches a length of up to 45 cm - this is necessary for obtaining food. The giraffe feeds on leaves from trees, which it captures from the upper branches with the help of its tongue.

giraffe varieties

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

1. Nubian giraffe. The habitat is in eastern Sudan and western Ethiopia. The color of the coat is dark, the spots are brown with white bordered lines. Bone outgrowth on the forehead of a large size.
2. The Rothschild giraffe or Ugandan giraffe lives in Uganda. It has large brown spots with white stripes between them.
3. Somali or reticulated giraffe. Habitat - northern Kenya and southern Somalia. This subspecies is distinguished by the beauty of the color, has bright brown-red spots of medium size. Each spot ends with a sharp edge of white. Bone outgrowth in females is completely absent.
4. Angolan giraffe - inhabits the countries of Namibia and Botswana. The wool is dyed with large elongated spots. In Angola, this subspecies originated, but now the population in the country has been destroyed.
5. Kordofan giraffe from the western regions of Sudan and Central Africa. A feature is unevenly spaced spots, which are more in the lower part of the legs at the will of the joints.
6. Masai giraffe - a species in which dark spots are only on the legs, have an unusual shape, similar to a star.
7. South African giraffe from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The coat color is golden hue, spots of dark color are round in shape.
8. Thornycroft's giraffe lives in Zambia. Wool of a light shade with dark spots of irregular shape with sharp corners.
9. The West African giraffe is a rare subspecies and is protected from extinction. All surviving individuals number 175 giraffes, they live only in the state of Chad.

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

Previously, varieties were taken as independent species. The facts of a sharp difference in spots and growth of giraffes led to this. Different color patterns exist even among the same subspecies and family. There is a theory that suggests the existence of giraffes with a 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 range of distribution 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 east of the Transvaal and northern Botswana. Previously, animals lived in West Africa, but all species have disappeared. In this part, giraffes live in the Republic of Niger thanks to a restored population from artificial reserves.

For this group of mammals, an arid climate is satisfactory. Populations are found in savannahs, grasslands and sparse forests. For the place of formation of the herd, territories with a large number of acacias suitable for their food are selected. Giraffes are not very dependent on the source of water, because they drink little. Males leave the herd in search of deciduous habitats.

Now favorable conditions are being created for giraffes in the reserves of Australia, Europe, Asia, and America.

Nutrition and lifestyle

Giraffes are social, living in large open herds. In one herd, there are an average of 10-20 individuals, the maximum recorded number of inhabitants reached 70 animals. The giraffe can join or leave the herd voluntarily, at will. These mammals are considered 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 pose. The animal lowers its head onto the hind leg, the neck takes the form of a small arch. Lying position during sleep is rarely taken. Eyes not fully closed, slightly open, ears twitch normally. They have the most minimal need for sleep duration of all mammals - about 2 hours per day.

To establish their superiority in the flock, fights are arranged. Adult males participate in the duel. Sparring begins with walking next to each other, horizontal necks pointing forward. Then the necks are intertwined, the heads lean close to each other - this is necessary to assess the strength of the enemy. After evaluating, a blow is applied to the neck and head. The impact force is heavy, some giraffes are knocked down and badly injured.

Giraffes are ruminant mammals with a four-chambered stomach and eat plant foods. Most of the day - up to 20 hours - is spent eating. The main diet consists of the following products:

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

They get minerals from the soil of the savannah. From the trees, the leaves of Senegalese acacia, bashful mimosa, small-flowered combretum, and apricots are used. On long journeys, they can stay for a long time without eating, replacing it with chewing gum. Preference is given to acacia leaves. To pick leaves, the giraffe pulls and bends a tree branch, grabbing it with its mouth, and plucks the leaves with its lips. The presence of thorns does not prevent eating acacia, the giraffe's molars are able to grind them in the process of absorption along with the leaves. Females are selective in the choice of trees, prefer high-calorie leaves, extracting them from the lower branches.

An adult animal consumes 65 kg of food per day. In a critical situation during a drought, it is enough for a giraffe to survive by reducing the diet to 7 kg of food per day. They can consume up to 35 liters of liquid at one time.

reproduction

This species is polygamous. During the mating season, the male begins courting the female. It begins with analyzing the smell of urine. After evaluating the female, the male rubs his head against her sacrum, then lays his head on his back. The next stage of courtship is licking the tail of the chosen one. Then the male throws his front paw on her back. If the female takes the courtship positively, she raises her tail for mating. In the rainy season, offspring are conceived. The gestation period lasts 450 days on average.

Female births occur during dry seasons from May to August. Giraffes breed every 20-30 months. Delivery begins in a standing position or when moving. A baby giraffe is called a calf, it is born 2 m tall. After 15 minutes, a newborn baby is already sucking mother's milk and gradually rises to its feet. The first time for 7-10 days the foal hides in the daytime and at night. The close stay of the female cub with the 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 old, they begin to breed from 7 years old upon reaching sexual maturity. Young females mature earlier - at 3-4 years, but begin to breed later.

At birth, the giraffe lacks horns, instead having only cartilage. As the calf grows, the cartilage ossifies, taking the form of horns. The black hair covering the forehead also disappears.

In the herd, females are social. They organize collective care for common cubs. After weaning the foal from the mother after 4 weeks, one female looks after the cubs of the entire herd, which is periodically replaced. The rest of the females are free and can travel long distances, and all the children remain under supervision and protection from wild animals. The return of the cubs is made at night for feeding.

Role in the ecosystem

Giraffes are of great importance in the planet's ecosystem. Many species are protected by conservation organizations. Interaction occurs with other animals and birds. Buffalo starlings have a mutually beneficial relationship with large mammals. They clean the back and neck of giraffes from ticks and insects with their beaks. In this case, the birds receive the necessary nutrients.

Relationships with humans are not vital to the animal population. Giraffes in reserves and zoos, with the necessary care, live longer than in the wild. Poachers hunted giraffes for their meat, hides, and tails. Household items were made from the skin: whips, reins, belts, upholstery. The ancient Greeks and Romans staged a display of these animals in the Colosseums for the entertainment of the public. The population of these mammals is protected in eastern and southern Africa, but has 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, hyenas. Near reservoirs during a watering place they are defenseless from attacks of crocodiles. Only adult large individuals are able to protect themselves, cubs are often attacked. The impressive size can scare away predators. The hooves of the front legs can deal heavy blows, which is self-defense in giraffes. One strong blow is capable of breaking the skull bone of a not very large animal.

Giraffes are zoo dwellers. Proper housing conditions benefit animals and prolong their lifespan.

The giraffe is a very elegant and unusual animal, the beauty and grace of which is simply off scale. An interesting fact is that even those who have never seen a giraffe in person feel extreme sympathy for him.

The animal belongs to the class of mammals and the order of artiodactyl ruminants, to the giraffe family and the giraffe genus.

Peculiarities

Great interest in this animal is due to its unique dimensions because the giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world. The growth of a giraffe can reach five and a half meters, and some individuals grow above 6 m. The length of the neck is a full third of its entire height.

An adult can weigh up to two tons, while the average weight of a giraffe ranges from 500 to 1900 kg.

Blood through the vessels in the body of a giraffe pumps a powerful heart, weighing 12 kg. This powerful organ pumps up to 60 liters of blood per minute, creating blood pressure three times higher than a human's.

Taking into account the length of the neck, it can be assumed that with a sharp change in the position of the head, tilting or turning, the giraffe experiences discomfort and loss of orientation due to a deterioration in well-being. But the high density of the blood prevents such problems from arising. In addition, the main vein in the neck is designed in such a way that, if necessary, the shut-off valves located in it are triggered. The long neck is no different in its structure from the neck of other mammals and consists of 7 vertebrae. But the length of each of them reaches an average of 25 centimeters.

What color is a giraffe

giraffe color worthy of detailed consideration. Its coat color is orange-yellow, with pronounced brown spots all over its body.

The spotted pattern is absolutely unique in each individual and never repeats. An analogy can be drawn with human fingerprints. Like a human, the fingerprint pattern is unique, and the shape and size of the spots on the body of a giraffe are unique.

On the head there is a pair of small horns with a characteristic short hair, and along the entire length of the neck there is a small mane of a darker color.

giraffe tongue

The language of this mammal is no less unique. than himself. In everyday life, the giraffe uses the tongue for the following procedures:

• grab and pluck leaves with branches from a great height;
• clean the face;
• clean ears;

Although the height of the giraffe allows him to get any leaves and branches from trees that are tasty for him, even those located in the highest and most inaccessible places, some branches may be too high. In this case, he uses his tongue, which can stretch almost half a meter and, bending to grab tidbits.

giraffe legs

In appearance, the legs of a mammal are very skinny compared to a more massive and voluminous body. However, it is not necessary to consider them flimsy or somehow weak. The animal confidently stays on its feet and jumps perfectly, even despite the large weight. While jumping, the mammal can overcome obstacles up to one and a half meters in height.

In running, the animal can also give odds to many of its relatives. The speed that this tall runner is able to reach reaches 60 km / h. But he has such agility only while he is on the plain. On swampy soil and in the river, he does not feel so comfortable and tries to avoid these places.

All species, of which there were only 5 pieces, became extinct. Now you can find only one species, which is classified based on the area where the giraffe lives. Another difference is the shape of the patterns on his torso.

Varieties of giraffes:

What and how does a giraffe eat

The animal feeds exclusively on plant foods. His stomach consists of four chambers, which allows him to digest food more thoroughly when eating. Rough branches and leaves, already crushed by the jaws and trapped in the first chamber of the stomach, are regurgitated for re-chewing.

The main diet of a mammal includes:

• acacia;
• shoots of wild apricot;
• mimosa.

The animal consumes food almost constantly. For this occupation, it is able to spend up to 20 hours a day. The amount of food consumed per day is quite large and can weigh up to 30 kg.

The giraffe does without moisture for a very long time thanks to the leaves included in its diet. The liquid contained in them helps him in this.

The giraffe drinks with its legs wide apart and its neck low, directly towards the water. In one approach, he can drink up to 40 liters of water.

reproduction

Since this tall handsome man prefers to live alone, for security reasons he lives nearby with antelopes or zebras who live in large herds. Sometimes animals still get together in herds of several individuals, but the male among them, as a rule, is one.

Males very zealously protect their females, not letting strangers near them. At the same time, they are not averse to mating with other females, if such an opportunity presents itself.

The mating season of the giraffe lasts from July to September. At this time, the rainy season begins in Africa. Due to the fact that the pregnancy in females lasts up to 15 months, the cub is born in dry weather, which gives him the opportunity to get on his feet more quickly.

An interesting fact is that at birth, the cubs simply fall from a height of two meters. This happens because the female takes only a standing position during childbirth.

A young individual weighs about a hundred kilograms, and its height does not exceed one and a half meters. It lacks the horns that adult animals have. In their place is a small cartilage covered with black hairs.

Unfortunately, in a newborn individual is very large risks of dying. They are often preyed upon by leopards and lions, as well as hyenas, which prefer to attack weaker individuals, including small cubs.

Giraffes are the tallest modern animals, which, combined with their bright spotted coloration and unusual body proportions, makes them absolutely recognizable.

Systematics

Latin name - Giraffa camelopardalis
English name - Giraffe
Order artiodactyls (Artiodactyla)
Giraffidae family (Giraffidae)
There are 9 subspecies of giraffe, the zoo contains 2 of them:
reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) - range red
South African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) - blue

Conservation status of the species

The giraffe is listed in the International Red Book as a species of least concern - IUCN(LC).

View and person

Until the arrival of Europeans in Africa, giraffes lived in the savannas of almost the entire continent. The local population hunted them, but not actively, and everything went into action: meat was eaten, shields were made from skins, strings for musical instruments were made from tendons, bracelets were made from tail tassels. The first white settlers exterminated giraffes mainly for the sake of skins, from which they made skin for the top of Boer carts, belts and whips. Later, during a safari, rich European hunters, having fun, killed many of these magnificent animals, and only tails with tassels served as trophies. As a result of such barbarity, the number of giraffes has almost halved over the past two centuries.

Currently, giraffes are not hunted much, however, their number in central Africa continues to decline, mainly due to the destruction of natural landscapes.

The giraffe is a peaceful animal, it gets along well next to a person and is one of the symbols of the African savannah.

In the zoos of Egypt and Rome, long-necked animals appeared around 1500 BC. e. The first giraffes came to London, Paris and Berlin in the 20s of the 19th century, and they were transported on sailing ships and led through Europe on foot. From bad weather, animals were covered with special raincoats, and leather sandals were put on their feet so that they would not wear out their hooves. Now giraffes are kept in almost all major zoos in the world and breed well in captivity.

Range and habitats

African continent. They live south of the Sahara in savannahs and sparse dry forests.

Appearance, features of morphology and physiology

The appearance of the giraffe is so peculiar that it cannot be confused with any other animal: a relatively small head on a disproportionately long neck, a sloping back, and long legs. The giraffe is the tallest living mammal: its height from the ground to the forehead reaches 4.8–5.8 m, the height at the withers is 3 m, while the body length is only 2.5 m! The mass of an adult male is about 800 kg, females are smaller and weigh 550–600 kg. On the forehead, both males and females have small horns covered with wool. Usually there is one pair, but sometimes two. In the middle of the forehead, many giraffes have a small bony outgrowth, resembling an additional unpaired horn.

The coloration of animals in different parts of the range varies greatly, which served as the basis for zoologists to distinguish 9 subspecies. However, even within the same subspecies it is impossible to find two identically colored giraffes: the spotted pattern is unique, like a fingerprint. Young animals are always slightly lighter than old ones. The spots scattered over the body of a giraffe imitate the play of shadow and light in tree crowns and perfectly camouflage giraffes among the trees.

At first glance, outwardly awkward, giraffes are actually perfectly adapted to life in the savannah: they see far and hear perfectly.

Giraffes usually move with a smooth step, ambling (both right and then both left legs are in motion first). Only in case of emergency, giraffes switch to an awkward, as if slowed down gallop, but they can withstand such a gait for no more than 2-3 minutes. A galloping giraffe constantly, as it were, nods deeply, bowing at each jump, since it can simultaneously tear off both front legs from the ground, only by throwing its neck and head far back and thus shifting the center of gravity. The animal looks extremely awkward while running, but it develops speed up to 50 km/h.

For a long time, the giraffe, due to the unusual structure of the body, was a mystery to physiologists. The heart of this animal is 2 m above the hooves and almost 3 m below the head. This means that, on the one hand, a significant column of blood presses on the vessels of the legs, which should lead to swelling of the legs, on the other hand, significant efforts are required to raise blood to the brain. How does the body of a giraffe cope with these problems? The lower part of the limbs of the animal is pulled together by a thick layer of subcutaneous connective tissue, which forms a dense stocking that presses on the walls of the vessels from the outside. The powerful heart of a giraffe creates a pressure of 300 mm Hg. Art., which is 3 times higher than in humans. When approaching the brain, due to the forces of gravity, the pressure of the bloodstream decreases, and in the head of the giraffe it is maintained at the same level as in other mammals. When the giraffe's head is raised, valves in the jugular vein prevent blood from draining too quickly. When the giraffe lowers its head, and the brain is 2 m below the heart, the pressure in it remains the same (90–100 mm Hg) due to the original structure of the vessels. Valves in the walls of the jugular vein prevent blood from returning to the brain, and a special network of elastic arteries located at the base of the skull delays it when it approaches the brain.

The long neck of the giraffe creates an even greater problem for breathing, they are forced to breathe faster than one would expect from such large animals: the respiratory rate of an adult giraffe at rest reaches 20 breaths per minute, while in humans it is only 12–15.

Lifestyle and social organization

Giraffes are diurnal animals. They usually feed in the morning and in the afternoon, and spend the hottest hours half asleep, standing in the shade of acacia trees. At this time, giraffes chew gum, their eyes are half-closed, but their ears are in constant motion. A real dream for giraffes at night. Then they lie down on the ground, tucking their front legs and one of their hind legs under them, and put their head on the other hind leg extended to the side (the extended hind leg allows the giraffe to quickly rise in case of approaching danger). At the same time, the long neck turns out to be curved back like an arch. This sleep is often interrupted, the animals get up, then lie down again. The total duration of complete deep sleep in adult animals is amazingly small: it does not exceed 20 minutes per night!

Most giraffes are found in groups. Adult females, juveniles and young animals are united in groups, the number of which rarely exceeds 20 individuals. The composition of such associations is unstable, animals join or leave them at will, a strong connection is observed only between females and their restless babies. In open spaces, animals often form groups; when they graze in forests, they disperse.

Group sizes also depend on the season. At the height of the dry season, when food is scarce, giraffes disperse across the savannah in small groups, at most 4-5 individuals. On the contrary, in the rainy season, when it is easier to feed, 10-15 animals unite.

Adult males are actively moving, covering up to 20 km per day in search of receptive females, and are often alone. The largest male in a given territory seeks to monopolize access to females. If he comes across another male on his way, the dominant assumes a characteristic posture with a vertically stretched neck and tense front legs exposed towards the opponent. If he does not think to retreat, then a duel begins, where the main weapon is the neck. Animals strike each other with resounding headbutts, aiming them at the belly of the enemy. The defeated animal retreats, the dominant pursues the loser at a distance of several meters, and then freezes in a victorious pose with its tail up.

Feeding and feeding behavior

Giraffes graze for 12-14 hours a day, preferring dawn or dusk when the heat is not so strong. They are called "pluckers" because giraffes feed on foliage, flowers, young shoots of trees and shrubs, finding food at a height of 2 to 6 meters. For the grass, they bend down in exceptional cases, when, after heavy rains, young growth sprouts violently. In whatever part of Africa giraffes graze, they prefer acacias, diversifying their menu with another 40-60 species of woody plants. Giraffes survive severe periods of drought by eating the tough leaves of drought-resistant plants, as well as fallen leaves and dry acacia pods.

Giraffes have unique mouthparts. The lips are equipped with long hairs, from which information about the presence of thorns and the degree of maturity of the leaves enters the brain through the nerve channels. The purple tongue of the giraffe, flexible, strong and extremely mobile, reaches a length of 46 cm. When grazing, it slips past the thorns, rolls up into a groove, wraps around the branches with the youngest and most delicious leaves and pulls them up to the level of the upper lip. The inner edges of the lips are covered with papillae, which help the animal to hold the desired plant in its mouth: the giraffe cuts it off with the incisors of the lower jaw. The giraffe stretches smooth branches through the mouth, where there is a free space (diastema) between the premolars and fangs, tearing off all the leaves with its lips.

Like other ruminants, giraffes increase the digestibility of feed by chewing it repeatedly. In addition, they have the unique ability to chew food while in motion, which allows them to significantly increase their grazing time.

The giraffe eats relatively little for its size. Adult males absorb about 66 kg of fresh greens every day, females - about 58 kg.

Since the food of giraffes is 70% water, they do not need frequent watering, but if clean water is available, they drink it willingly. In some places, giraffes eat the earth, making up for the lack of mineral salts in the body.

The relationship between giraffes and acacias, their main food, deserves special attention. For millions of years, an evolutionary "arms race" has been going on between them, during which both sides have developed adaptations and counter-adaptations. On the one hand, there are sharp spines, spikes and hooks, as well as a high content of tannins - poisonous substances that have a sharp taste. On the other hand, a virtuoso tongue, very thick saliva, special substances secreted by the liver, and the ability to recognize leaves, in which the concentration of toxic substances is highest. And the black locust, especially loved by giraffes, has even adapted to reproduce with the help of giraffes! At the end of the dry season, the acacia is covered with creamy white flowers, which cannot leave indifferent giraffes, for whom these flowers are a very attractive source of nutrients. The leaves of the black acacia are protected by sharp thorns, but the flowers are defenseless. Giraffes, eating these delicacies at a height of 4 meters, each time powder their heads and necks with pollen and carry it to dozens of trees, walking up to 20 km a day. Thus, for acacia, the loss of part of the flowers and buds is compensated by the spread of pollen and guaranteed pollination by giraffes of the remaining flowers.

Vocalization

For a long time, giraffes were thought to be voiceless. But in fact, they have a completely normal voice apparatus, and they can make a whole range of different sounds. In case of danger, giraffes snore, releasing air through their nostrils. Excited or grappling with an opponent, males emit a hoarse cough or growl. It happens that adult giraffes, having reached the peak of excitement, roar loudly. Frightened cubs scream thinly and plaintively, without opening their lips.

Reproduction and rearing of offspring

Giraffes do not have a specific breeding season. Adult males move from one group to another, sniffing the females and determining their readiness for mating. The largest and strongest males participate in reproduction. Pregnancy in giraffes lasts more than a year (15 months), after which one cub is born, twins are extremely rare. A baby about two meters tall and weighing 70 kg falls at birth from a height of two meters, since the female does not lie down during childbirth. She can retire behind trees, but does not move far from the group. Like all ungulates, a newborn tries to stand on its legs a few minutes after birth, and half an hour later it tries mother's milk. The baby giraffe develops quickly, and after a week he already runs and jumps no worse than an adult animal. At the age of two weeks, the baby begins to try plant foods, but the mother feeds him with milk for a whole year. She selflessly protects the cub from lions and hyenas, but, nevertheless, about half of the giraffes become the prey of predators during the first year of life.

Cubs leave their mother at the age of about 16 months.

A female giraffe gives birth to her first cub when she is 5 years old. If conditions are favorable, she will produce offspring every 18 months up to 20 years. Males start breeding at an older age.

Lifespan

In captivity, giraffes live up to 25 years (the record is 28 years), in nature - less.

Giraffes at the Moscow Zoo

On the old territory of the zoo there is a "House of the Giraffe", where everyone's favorite lives - Samson Gamletovich Leningradov. This is the only animal in the zoo with such a full name. Samson was born in the Leningrad Zoo in 1993 (hence the surname) and came to us at the age of three. Good-natured, peaceful, he enjoys communicating with people.

Samson's favorite food is willow leaves, which he eats from branches suspended high in the aviary. Hay, or grass, he eats from a feeder, which is also located at a height of four meters. Even his drinker is raised by 2 meters. Samson is fed 3 times a day: in the morning he receives hay, branches and about 3 kg of hercules. During the day they give juicy food: vegetables and fruits (potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, bananas), which must be cut, otherwise the animal may choke. Samson first of all chooses bananas, apples and carrots, but by the evening he eats everything. At night, hay is added to the feeder and branches are given again. The branches are placed indoors, so sometimes, having come to the zoo in the evening, Samson can not be seen in the outdoor enclosure - he left to eat his favorite willow.

Starting from late autumn until spring, about once a month, Samson is given a shower - water is poured from a hose. He is very animated - runs around the enclosure, funny throwing up his long legs. In the summer, Samson washes in the rain: he likes a warm, light rain, but during a downpour, he hurries to take cover under the roof.

Samson belongs to a subspecies of reticulated giraffes, and in the New Territory of the zoo in the pavilion "Ungulates of Africa" ​​you can see a giraffe of another, South African subspecies, who came from Kenya. In summer, the animal walks in the fresh air, and in winter it is kept indoors. This is a female, her daily routine is the same as that of Samson, but she was born in the wild and therefore not so sociable (trustful) with people. She spends most of her time at her feeders, but sometimes she grazes on the grass growing in the clearing. At the same time, the long-necked and long-legged animal widely spreads its front legs and crouches funny. To zebras and ostrich - neighbors in the enclosure, she is very peaceful, and sometimes even plays with them, arranging small runs.

Ecology

Main:

Giraffes are the tallest land animals on the planet. Males reach a height of up to 5.5 meters, and females - 4.3 meters, while cubs can be about 1.8 meters tall. Surprisingly, giraffe cubs grow literally by leaps and bounds - up to 2.5 centimeters per day!

Just as humans have unique fingerprints, every giraffe has a unique color scheme. Some representatives have a pattern on the coat in the form of oak leaves, others have square-shaped patterns, so it seems that a large net was thrown over the giraffe. The spots on the skin of animals can have a different color: from very light to almost black, depending on what they eat and where they live. Some experts argue that giraffes use the spots for camouflage.

In the wild, giraffes can only sleep 20 minutes a day and usually no more than 5 minutes at a time, as they must be on the alert all the time to hide from enemies.

All giraffes have a pair of hairy horns. Male giraffes use them to fight other males. They rest their heads against each other and weave their necks together, such a fight is called "neck wrestling".

Like camels, giraffes can survive for a long time without water due to their diet, especially acacia leaves, which contain a lot of moisture. When they really feel thirsty, they go to the nearest body of water to drink and are forced to spread or bend their legs wide in order to reach the water with their muzzle. At this point, giraffes are quite vulnerable to predators. To protect themselves, giraffes usually go to the watering hole not alone, so that their relatives monitor the approach of danger and can warn in time.

Giraffes eat exclusively plant foods, especially tree leaves, buds, mimosa and acacia branches. Their growth allows you to get to such food that is not available to other animals. A giraffe can eat up to 35 kilograms of food per day. Since a giraffe can pluck and swallow only a few leaves at a time, it spends most of the day eating.

Acacia trees have sharp thorns that stop most animals, but not giraffes. Their half-meter tongues can grope for spikes, and dense, thick saliva covers spikes that a giraffe can swallow. The dark color of the tongue helps protect it from sunburn when the giraffe reaches for leaves on trees.

Giraffes are ruminants, like cows, and have four cells in their stomachs that allow the leaves to be properly digested. After the giraffe swallows a mouthful of leaves, the ball of already chewed leaves is lifted back for even more crushing.

Giraffes mate at any time of the year, after 14 months a newborn is born. Immediately after birth, the cub falls to the ground from a height of about 1.8 meters. The impact usually doesn't hurt the baby, but it does make him take his first breath. The cub firmly stands on its feet within an hour after birth, and 10 hours after birth it already knows how to run. After a couple of weeks, the cubs join a youth group called "crèche".

In the wild, giraffes live for about 25 years, but in captivity they can live longer.

Habitats:

Giraffes once lived in the dry savannas south of the Sahara, where there were trees. Today, their habitats have been significantly reduced due to the loss of territories. Most giraffes live in wooded savannahs, open wooded areas in coastal forests, in eastern Africa and in the northern parts of southern Africa, where protected national parks are located.

West African giraffes live in the wild in the southwest of Niger. Last remaining population Ugandan giraffe lives in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. This subspecies has also been introduced to 6 sites in Kenya and one additional site in Uganda.

Guard status: Least Concern to Threatened

In general, giraffes are not in danger of extinction, but some subspecies are. For example, the West African and Ugandan giraffes are threatened with extinction.

Giraffes are quite widespread in Africa, their population reaches about 100 thousand individuals. Experts say that the number of giraffes is declining due to habitat loss and poaching, so these animals may be in the Red Book as an endangered species in the near future.

The West African giraffe may be at the greatest risk of extinction. Currently, there are less than 200 left, but thanks to conservation programs, the number of these giraffes is gradually increasing.

Ugandan giraffes are also endangered. There are about 2,500 of them left, and experts fear that every day there are fewer of them.

The appearance of giraffes resembles something between a camel and a leopard. They have a small hump on their backs and a spotted coat. Some people called the giraffe "camel-leopard", hence its Latin name camelopardalis.

The foot of a giraffe is about 30 centimeters in diameter - the size of a dinner plate.

The neck of a giraffe reaches a length of about 2 meters and weighs more than 250 kilograms.

The hind legs of a giraffe seem shorter, although they are almost the same length as the front ones - an average of 1.8 meters.

The heart of a giraffe weighs about 11 kilograms and has a diameter of about 0.6 meters.

For a long time it was believed that giraffes were dumb, but in fact they produce sounds that are inaccessible to the human ear. They also know how to whistle, hiss, moo and growl.

Apart from humans, the only natural enemies of giraffes are lions and crocodiles. Giraffes know how to defend themselves with deadly kicks if they are in serious danger.

Males are required to smell or taste the female's urine to determine if she is ready to mate.

Giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their spine as humans do - 7. Each of the vertebrae is about 25 centimeters long.

Giraffes can run pretty fast to avoid enemies. The record speed of a giraffe is 55 kilometers per hour.