3 minute read
Giraffes
ENVIRONMENT
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Why do giraff such long nec
The anatomy of Earth’s tallest animal explain
Towering above the grasslands and savannah plains, these gentle giants are the tallest land mammals on our planet. Giraffes can grow up to 5.8 metres (19 feet) in height, even their legs alone are taller than most humans at an incredible 1.8 metres (six feet) high. However, it’s their remarkable necks that really bolster this animal’s stature and hold the secret to their survival in the wild.
Although a giraffe’s neck has a rigid, muscular appearance, it is very fl exible. The vertebrae inside the neck are fi xed together by ball-and-socket joints, similar to a human’s shoulder, which gives them a great range of motion. They also have a unique cardiovascular system that compensates for their long necks and helps ensure an adequate blood fl ow to their brain at all times. Blood vessels inside the neck feature valves and this - along with a large heart and lungs - help to prevent blood from fl owing backward due to gravity.
A giraffe’s fl exible neck puts it at a great advantage when it comes to grazing. Not only can this animal reach tall tree tops for their preferred food, acacia leaves, but with their legs splayed, they are also able to graze on low-lying foliage. Male giraffes also frequently use their necks in powerful fi ghting displays to ward off the competition during the mating season, which involves swinging their necks into their rivals during battle.
Giraffe anatom
Take a closer look at how this ani evolved to survive in the wild
Blood circulation
Blood vessels inside the neck have valves to help prevent a head rush as giraffes bend down, as well as ensuring that blood does not backtrack with gravity as it travels to the brain.
Leg length
Although the back legs appear longer, they are same length as the front at 1.8m (6ft). The tight skin around the legs also helps blood circulate better.
Stability
Although giraffes can look a little unsteady on their feet at times, their heavy necks actually help guide their centre of gravity by swaying as they walk.
Flexible vertebrae
The seven vertebrae in the neck are connected by ball-and-socket joints, enabling the giraffe to twist and bend its neck easily for feeding and fi ghting.
Foot size
The giraffe’s hoof-like feet are the same size as a dinner plate at 30cm (12in) in diameter.
Long tongue
A giraffe’s tongue can be 50cm (20in) long and is used to help strip leaves from the tree tops as they graze in the wild.
Heart and lungs
Giraffe hearts can weigh up to 11kg (24lb) and are 60cm (24in) long. Their lungs are also large enough to hold up 55l (14.5ga) of air.
Giraffes’ long tongues help them keep their face, erm, spotless…
How long is a giraffes tongue?
A giraffe’s tongue isn’t as long as their necks but it’s still an impressive 45 to 50 centimetres (18 to 20 inches) in length. It is also black or dark purple in appearance, which is generally believed to protect it from sun exposure as they graze.
When feeding, a giraffe will wrap its tongue around plants and shoots in order to strip them of their leaves. Water-rich acacia leaves are a favoured food, but these trees have prickly defensive thorns, which prevent most herbivores from devouring them. However, the giraffe’s dexterous tongue has thick and resilient papillae, which helps to protect it as it reaches around the thorns to get to the food. Their thick saliva is also thought to cover any prickly thorns that are stripped in order to protect the giraffe’s tongue and mouth from harm.
Aside from using their tongues to help them consume up to 34 kilograms (75 pounds) of food on a daily basis, giraffes will also frequently use them to clean out their own ears and eyes. That’s quite the party trick.
