Giraffes
Habitat
Giraffes live in two places. The first is in zoos around the world. The only other place is on the continent of Africa on the African plains. There they live on the wild, golden, and free grass. There are also a couple of large watering holes, and a few acacia trees here and there, from which they feed. They live with other animals like zebras, hippos, elephants, and rhinos.
Diet
Giraffes don't have a very expanded diet. They eat basically eat leaves from acacia trees, eat twigs from plants, and drink water from the watering holes. Also, giraffes are herbivores, which means that they don't eat meat.
Description
Giraffes' bodies basically look like that of a horse, except when you get to their neck. Their necks are so, so, so long. Also, their heads are somewhat like horses too, except their ears are smaller, their tongues are longer, and they have horns. Also, giraffes are a pale yellow color with tons of random brown spots all over them.
Types
There aren't (sadly) any different types of giraffe. There's only the giraffe. However, there are some subspecies of giraffe. Those are: the Rothschild, the Masai, the Reticulated, the Thornicorts, the Kordofan, the Angolen, and the Southern. So many subspecies, but no actual species!!
Fun Facts
- All giraffes have black tongues that can extend to approximately 20 inches! Their tongues are prehensile, which mean that they can grab and hold on to objects. Also, they are really tough so they they don't get hurt by thorns that could be on the shrub or twigs that they're eating.
- Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth!
- A giraffe can run up to 35 miles per hour and have been known to jump about 6 feet in the air.
- Giraffes need extremely little sleep and can sleep got only about 20 to and hour of a 24- hour period and not be tired. Wish I was that way!!!
- Giraffes have good vision and are actually able to see color, unlike most animals.
- The color of a giraffe's coat tends to darken with age