The giraffe is the world┐s tallest animal. The giraffe┐s coat has a distinctive patchy colouration and the colour of the patches deepens as the animal becomes older. The back of the neck has a mane of stiff hairs. In spite of the length of the giraffe┐s neck, it contains only 7 vertebrae, the same number as any other mammal. The difference is that these vertebrates are very elongated, reaching 30 centimetres (one foot) in length, and are attached to one another with ball and socket joints.

The giraffe has a massive heart in order to pump the blood about 2.5 metres up to the brain. The walls of the heart are more than 7 centimetres thick. Freed from restrictions of seasonal food supply, giraffes can grow very large.

Weight

Male giraffes weigh around 1818 kilograms (1.8 tonnes) and females around 772 kilograms.

Height

4.5-5 metres (15-17 feet).

Tail

The tail is 60 centimetres (2 feet) in length.

Speed

The giraffe can sprint up to 55 kilometres per hour. Their stride is about 4.5 metres (15 feet) long and when running their necks swing gracefully.

Life Span

15-25 years.

Head

Even the giraffe┐s tongue is very long, measuring up to 50 centimetres in length. The giraffe┐s ears are about 20 centimetres tall, and they have very good eyesight and can see each other from a mile away. Both sexes have at least two ┐horns┐ on their head. These are made of fused hairs and bones. The bull┐s skull grows increasingly with age.

Front Limb

The front limb is 2.4 metres (8 feet) long and there are two hooved digits at the end of it. The ┐elbow┐ is situated near the body and much of the lower length of the limb is ┐fingers┐ and ┐palm┐. The giraffe runs with a ┐pacing┐ gait, where both legs on a side move together. Giraffes can actually run well, despite an odd body shape.

Hind Limb

The hind leg serves as a resting place for the head when the giraffe sleeps. Giraffes also lie down to sleep. The structure of the hind limb is similar to that of the front limb.