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GIRAFFE INFORMATION PAGE
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| Physical Characteristics:
The giraffe is the tallest living mammal. Head/shoulder length is approximately 13' for the male. Shoulder height is 8-12', overall height 15-19'. Weight is 1,100-2,800 lbs. The reticulated giraffes are handsomely patterned in golden browns, with a coarsely netted (reticulated) pattern mainly quadrangular in shape. Males and females have stiff manes along their necks. Both sexes have horn-like structures called ossicones (smaller on the females) on top of their heads between their ears. These ossicones are present at birth in the form of small knobs of cartilage covered with skin and hair which become bony nodules with age. They have seven vertebrae in neck, the same as man and most other mammals. The tail measures up to one yard with a terminal tuft of stiff, black hair. They have long tongues that measure 18-21 inches long. The inner part of the tongue is pink in color, and then changes to a purplish-black color for the last 6 inches that are commonly visible. |
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| Adaptations:
Giraffes have long legs and neck, long, tough, prehensile tongue, and leathery mouth for food gathering. Their coloration is protective. They are tall with good eyesight for watchfulness. Giraffes have high blood pressure (240/160) for pumping blood to the brain. Herds are small and loosely constructed of 5-15 individuals, consisting of one bull with females and young. Other bulls are solitary or in pairs. Giraffes usually sleep standing up. Going for a month without water is also possible as an adaptation to long drought periods in their native areas. |
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| Ecological Niche:
Primary consumer (herbivore). A browsing ruminant that eats regularly throughout the day, the giraffe prefers young leaves and shoots at tops of acacia trees; they also consume twigs and bark. They prefer to drink regularly, but can go without water for several days. Giraffes can run up to 35 mph. Predators are leopards (prey on young), lions, and man. Giraffes kick with their hooves and slam with their heads. |
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| Reproduction:
Giraffes are non-seasonal breeders, usually producing one precocial calf after a gestation period of 14-15 months. Birth height is 5½-6', birth weight is 87-107 lbs. They become sexually mature between 3 and 4 years of age and have a life span of about 25 years (30+ in captivity). Full body size is not reached until age five. |
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| Other Information:
The carotid artery that carries blood from the heart to the head is thick, muscular and elastic, ballooning when the giraffe stoops to absorb increase in pressure. When the giraffe raises its head, a series of check valves in the inch-wide jugular vein prevents a sudden back flow from the emptying brain. Giraffes are most vulnerable to predators when drinking or lying down. They may see red-orange, yellow-green, purple, green and blue as colors. Their scientific name means "camel-leopard-like one who walks swiftly." Their spot patterns are as individual as fingerprints. There are no known cases of giraffes swimming. Giraffe’s have a variety of sounds but they are rarely heard. They may grunt of snort when alarmed, females may whistle to call their young, and calves can bleat. |
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| Zoo Diet: Alfalfa, ADF16 grain mix, and produce. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other sub-species of giraffe (vernacular, scientific
names):
Nubian, Giraffa camelopardalis typica; Kordofan, G.c. antiquorum; Lado, G.c. cottoni; Baringo, G.c. rothschildsi; Kilimanjaro or Masai, G.c. tippelskirchi; Congo, G.c. congoensis; Angola, G.c. angolensis; Transvaal, G.c. wardi; Cape, G.c. capensis; Nigerian, G.c. peralta. |
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Giraffe Feeding
Enjoy the unique experience of hand feeding special "giraffe crackers" to our world famous herd of reticulated giraffes in their home, the African Rift Valley! Giraffe crackers are available at the admission gate, and also during the Summer in front of the giraffe exhibit. Price is three crackers for $1.00. |
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 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Phone(719)633-9925 Fax (719)633-2254
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Updated October
2006. Report problems with this site to: webmaster@cmzoo.org
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