The giraffe is a mammal that belongs to the order Artiodactyla, family Giraffidae. Latin name Giraffa camelopardalis. Of the hired animal species, it is the tallest. There are several species of giraffes that live in different places and climatic zones, what determines how much a giraffe weighs and its color.
The height of giraffes reaches up to 5.7 m, of which 3.3 m is from the body to the shoulders, 2.4 m is from the neck to 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 wildlife.
Due to high growth, the load on the heart muscle and vascular system of the animal increases. Giraffes have a strong heart, reaching a weight of up to 12 kg. In 1 minute it is capable of moving up to 60 liters of blood, the pressure on the walls of blood vessels is 3 times higher than the human norm.
Have a thick skin covering covered with a coat of short hairs. Lengthening of the fur is noticeable only on the mane, back, forehead and tail brush. The main color is little noticeable, most of the body is covered with spots. The coloring of the coat is different for each species, depending on the area. The spots vary in size, color, location on the body, and number. Shades of spots range from yellow to black. The coat pattern obtained during intrauterine development remains unchanged throughout life. Small spots on the long neck and legs, absent on the ventral abdomen and inner surface legs
The giraffe's legs 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 and ends thin long tail 100 cm. The tassel-shaped tip of the tail is a necessary device for protection against insects. On the head there are 2 horns of 15 cm each with tassels at the end. They are formed from bone tissue, covered with skin and hair, is thinner in females than in males. Another bony growth 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 feeding, and the muzzle is long and elongated. Reaches a length of up to 45 cm - this is necessary for obtaining food. The giraffe feeds on leaves from trees, which it grabs from the upper branches using its tongue.
Types of giraffes
Only with the help of genetic analysis of almost 200 giraffes from different groups was it possible to establish that there are 4 separate species of these mammals. Previously it was believed that there was 1 species and 9 different subspecies. The variety depends on the location; the main habitat is Africa. Each region has a specific subspecies, there are 9 subspecies in total.
- Nubian giraffe. The habitat is in eastern Sudan and western Ethiopia. The coat color is dark, with brown spots edged with white lines. Large bony growth on the forehead.
- Rothschild's giraffe or Ugandan giraffe lives in Uganda. Has spots large sizes brown with white stripes between them.
- Somali or reticulated giraffe. Habitat: northern Kenya and southern Somalia. This subspecies is distinguished by its beautiful color, with bright brown-red spots of medium size. Every spot ends with a sharp edge white. The bone growth in females is completely absent.
- The Angolan giraffe inhabits the countries of Namibia and Botswana. The wool is colored with large elongated spots. The origin of this subspecies occurred in Angola, but now the population in the country has been destroyed.
- Kordofan giraffe from the western regions of Sudan and Central Africa. A special feature is the unevenly located spots, which are more numerous in the lower part of the legs and joints.
- The Masai giraffe, a species that has dark spots only on its legs, has unusual shape, like a star.
- South African giraffe from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The coat color is golden in color, with dark round spots.
- Thorneycroft's giraffe - lives in Zambia. Wool light shade with dark spots irregular shape with sharp corners.
- The West African giraffe is a small subspecies that is protected from extinction. All surviving individuals number 175 giraffes, living only in the state of Chad.
The height of each giraffe subspecies differs slightly from the others.
Previously, varieties were taken as independent species. This was led by the facts of the sharp difference in the spots and growth of giraffes. Different color patterns exist even among the same subspecies and family. There is a theory that suggests the existence of giraffes with uniform coat color without spots.
Where do giraffes live?
Giraffes like separate species appeared in Central Asia, then spread to the countries of Africa and Europe. The distribution range 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 eastern Transvaal and northern Botswana. Previously, animals lived in West Africa, but all species have disappeared. In this part, giraffes live in the Niger Republic thanks to the restored population from artificial reserves.
An arid climate is satisfactory for this group of mammals. Populations are found in savannas, grasslands and sparse forests. For the place of formation of the herd, territories with big amount acacias suitable for their nutrition. Giraffes are not very dependent on the source of water, since they drink little. Males leave the herd in search of deciduous habitats.
Now favorable conditions are being created for giraffes in nature reserves in Australia, Europe, Asia, and America.
Nutrition and lifestyle
Giraffes lead social image life, live in large open herds. In one herd there are on average 10-20 individuals, the maximum recorded number of inhabitants reached 70 animals. A giraffe can join or leave the herd voluntarily, at its own discretion. These mammals are considered to be 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 its hind leg, and its neck takes the shape of a small arch. The supine position during sleep is rarely accepted. The eyes are not completely closed, slightly open, the ears twitch normally. They have the minimum need for sleep duration of all mammals - about 2 hours per day.
To establish their superiority in the pack, fights are organized. Adult males participate in the fight. Sparring begins with walking next to each other, horizontal necks pointing forward. Then the necks are intertwined, the heads are leaned close to each other - this is necessary to assess the strength of the enemy. After the assessment, a blow to the neck and head is applied. The impact is severe and some giraffes are knocked down and severely injured.
Giraffes are ruminant mammals with a four-chambered stomach and feed on plant matter. Most of the day - up to 20 o'clock - is spent eating. The main diet consists of the following products:
- tree leaves;
- flowers;
- seeds;
- fruits.
They obtain minerals from the soil of the savannah. Among the trees that are used are the leaves of acacia senegalese, mimosa pudica, combretum parviflora, and apricots. During long journeys, they can remain for a long time without eating, replacing it with chewing gum. Preference is given to acacia leaves. To tear off leaves, the giraffe pulls up and bends a tree branch, grabbing it with its mouth, and tears off the leaves with its lips. The presence of thorns does not prevent acacia from being eaten; the giraffe's molars are capable of grinding them in the process of absorption along with the leaves. Females are selective in choosing trees; they prefer high-calorie leaves, obtaining them from the lower branches.
An adult animal consumes 65 kg of food per day. In a critical situation during drought, a giraffe needs to reduce its diet to 7 kg of food per day to survive. They can consume up to 35 liters of liquid at one time.
Reproduction
This species is polygamous. During the mating season, the male begins to court the female. It starts with analyzing the smell of urine. After assessing the female, the male rubs his head against her rump, then lays his head on his back. The next stage of courtship is licking the tail of the chosen one. The male then throws his front paw over her back. If the female has responded positively to the courtship, she raises her tail to mate. During the rainy season, offspring are conceived. Gestation lasts 450 days on average.
Females give birth during the dry season from May to August. Giraffes reproduce every 20-30 months. Delivery begins in a standing position or while moving. A baby giraffe is called a calf and is born 2 m tall. After 15 minutes, the newborn baby is already sucking mother's milk and gradually stands on its feet. At first, for 7-10 days, the foal hides during the day and at night. The close stay of a female cub with its 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 of age; they begin to reproduce at 7 years of age upon reaching sexual maturity. Young females mature earlier - at 3-4 years, but begin to reproduce later.
At birth, a giraffe does not have horns, instead there is only cartilage. As the calf grows, the cartilage ossifies, taking the shape of horns. The black fur covering the forehead also disappears.
In a herd, females are social. They organize collective supervision of their common cubs. After the foal is weaned from its mother after 4 weeks, one female looks after the cubs of the entire herd during the day, which is periodically replaced. The remaining females are free and can travel long distances, and all children remain under supervision and protection from wild animals. The cubs return at night to feed.
Role in the ecosystem
Giraffes have great importance in the planet's ecosystem. Many species are protected by conservation organizations. Interaction also occurs with other animals and birds. Buff starlings consist of mutually beneficial relationships With large mammals. They clean the back and neck of giraffes from ticks and insects with their beaks. At the same time, the birds receive the necessary nutrients.
Relationships with humans are not vital to animal populations. Giraffes in nature reserves and zoos, with the necessary care, live longer than in the wild. Poachers hunted giraffes for their meat, skin, and tails. Household items were made from the skin: whips, reins, belts, upholstery. The ancient Greeks and Romans staged displays of these animals in the Colosseums to entertain the public. The population of these mammals is protected in the eastern and South Africa, but decreased in western regions 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, and hyenas. Near bodies of water during watering hours they are defenseless from attacks by crocodiles. Only large adult individuals are capable of defending themselves; young ones are often attacked. Impressive size capable of scaring away predators. The hooves of the front legs can deliver heavy blows, which is the self-defense of giraffes. One strong blow can break the skull bone of a not very large animal.
Giraffes are inhabitants of zoos. Proper living conditions benefit animals and prolong their lifespan.
Giraffe(lat. Giraffa camelopardalis) is a rather colorful and unusual in appearance animal, belonging to the class mammals, order ruminant artiodactyls, family giraffidae, genus giraffes.
Description of the giraffe, appearance, characteristics.
The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. The height (height) of the giraffe reaches 5.5 - 6.1 meters, a third of which falls on its famous neck. The weight of a male giraffe can range from 500 kg to 1900 kg, and the heart weighs as much as 12 kg: about 60 liters of blood passes through its valves per minute, and the pressure inside the vessels exceeds the standard pressure of an average person by 3 times. Due to the high density of blood, even abrupt change The position of the giraffe's head does not lead to a deterioration in the animal's condition. Despite its impressive length, the giraffe’s neck fully meets the standard characteristics of a mammal - the giraffe has 7 cervical vertebrae, each of which reaches a length of 25 cm. The main jugular vein has in its design special locking valves that are responsible for a uniform supply of blood with the same pressure.
The giraffe has quite interesting language: dark, almost brown in color, long and very muscular, it allows the animal to grab tree branches on high altitude, sticking out 40-45 cm. With such a long tongue, giraffes can even clean their own ears.
Giraffe color.
The color of the giraffe is also worthy of attention: the pattern of spots on the skin is absolutely unique and individual, like a person’s fingerprints, and is never repeated in two individuals. The head of both the male and female giraffe is decorated with a pair of horns covered with fur, large eyes bordered by long eyelashes and small ears crown the elongated head of the giraffe.
Giraffe legs.
Despite their thin legs in relation to their overall size, these mammals run well (the giraffe’s speed is 60 km/h) and jump well, overcoming barriers more than 1.5 meters high. True, the tallest animal in the world can only actively move on a hard surface - the giraffe avoids swampy soil and rivers.
How do giraffes sleep?
The giraffe bends its long legs under itself, moving one of them to the side, and then, bending into a ball, puts its head on its croup. Giraffes can also sleep standing up.
Sleep does not last long: during the night the giraffe gets up every now and then to drink or eat something. The mammal does not require many hours of sleep - a giraffe only needs from 10 minutes to 2 hours of sleep per day.
How giraffes sleep
Types of giraffes.
In the giraffe family, only 1 species of giraffe is distinguished; the remaining 5 species are considered extinct. Giraffes are classified mainly depending on where the animal lives and its color pattern. Experts count 9 subspecies (varieties) of giraffes:
- lives in eastern Sudan and western Ethiopia. It has distinctive chestnut spots edged with rich white lines; males are also distinguished by an impressive bony growth on the frontal part of the skull;
- Ugandan giraffe (Rothschild) lives in Uganda. Known throughout the world for the beauty of its large brown spots, separated by wide white stripes;
- Reticulated giraffe (Somali) lives in northern Kenya and southern Somalia. A network of juicy brown-red spots of medium size with sharp edges and thin white lines distinguishes this subspecies from a number of relatives; females often lack a growth on the skull;
- lives in Namibia and Botswana. Large brown spots with elongated accent corners give the animal’s color an extraordinary attractiveness;
- Kordofan giraffe lives in western Sudan and the Central African Republic. Notable for the unevenness of the spots, the density of which increases below the hocks;
- Masai giraffe lives in southern Kenya and Tanzania. The spots mostly decorate the legs, the shape of which is more like a star;
- lives in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. The golden skin is decorated with dark round spots that rarely reach the hooves;
- lives in Zambia. The lighter skin has medium-sized jagged dark spots.
- is in danger of extinction. In 2007, the number of individuals was only 175 animals. Habitat: Chad.
Where does the giraffe live?
The giraffe lives in the savannas of sunny Africa; the giraffe does not live on other continents. Over the past 50 years, giraffe herds can often be found in the southern and south-eastern regions of the Sahara, as well as drier areas of uninhabited land. Due to the elongated body structure and low level water consumption, this animal can live in the open forests of Africa.
Giraffes are the tallest living animals, which, combined with their bright spotted coloring and unusual body proportions, makes them absolutely recognizable.
Taxonomy
Latin name - Giraffa camelopardalis
English name- Giraffe
Order Artiodactyla (Artiodactyla)
Giraffe 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).
Species and man
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 was used: the meat was used for food, shields were made from skins, strings for musical instruments were made from tendons, and bracelets were made from tail tassels from hair. The first white settlers exterminated giraffes mainly for the sake of their skins, from which they made leather for the top of Boer carts, belts and whips. Later, during safari, rich European hunters, having fun, killed many of these magnificent animals, and only the tails with tassels served as trophies. As a result of such barbarity, the number of giraffes has almost halved over the last two centuries.
Currently, giraffes are rarely hunted, however, their numbers in central Africa continue to decline, mainly due to the destruction of natural landscapes.
The giraffe is a peace-loving animal; it gets along well with humans and is one of the symbols of the African savannah.
Long-necked animals appeared in zoos in Egypt and Rome around 1500 BC. e. The first giraffes arrived in London, Paris and Berlin in the 20s of the 19th century, and they were transported on sailing ships and walked across Europe. The animals were covered from bad weather with special raincoats, and leather sandals were put on their feet so that they would not wear off their hooves. Giraffes are now kept in almost all major zoos in the world and reproduce well in captivity.
Range and habitats
African continent. They live south of the Sahara in savannas and sparse dry forests.
Appearance, features of morphology and physiology
The appearance of the giraffe is so unique that it cannot be confused with any other animal: a relatively small head on a disproportionately long neck, a sloping back, 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 length of the body is only 2.5 m! The weight of an adult male is about 800 kg, females are smaller and weigh 550–600 kg. On the forehead of both males and females 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 that resembles an additional unpaired horn.
Coloring animals in different parts The range varies greatly, which served as the basis for zoologists to identify 9 subspecies. However, even within the same subspecies it is impossible to find two completely identically colored giraffes: the spotted pattern is unique, like a fingerprint. Young animals are always a little lighter than older ones. The spots scattered across the giraffe's body imitate the play of shadow and light in the tree crowns and perfectly camouflage giraffes among the trees.
At first glance, outwardly awkward, giraffes are in fact perfectly adapted to life in the savannah: they see far and hear perfectly.
Giraffes usually move at a smooth pace, ambling (first both right legs are in motion, then both left legs). Only in cases of extreme necessity do giraffes switch to an awkward, seemingly slow gallop, but they maintain such a gait for no more than 2–3 minutes. A galloping giraffe constantly nods deeply, bowing with each jump, since it can simultaneously lift both front legs off the ground, only by throwing its neck and head far back and thus shifting its center of gravity. The animal looks extremely clumsy while running, but reaches speeds of up to 50 km/h.
For a long time, the giraffe, due to its unusual body structure, presented 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 lift the blood to the brain. How does the giraffe's body cope with these problems? The lower part of the animal's limbs is covered with a thick layer of subcutaneous tissue. connective tissue, which forms a dense stocking that presses on the walls of blood 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 gravitational forces, the pressure of the bloodstream decreases, and in the giraffe’s head it is maintained at the same level as in other mammals. When the giraffe's head is raised, valves located in the jugular vein prevent blood from flowing out 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 blood 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 as it approaches the brain.
The giraffe's long neck creates an even greater breathing problem; they are forced to breathe more often than would be expected 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 cud, their eyes are half-closed, but their ears are in constant motion. Giraffes get real sleep at night. Then they lie down on the ground, tucking their front legs and one of their hind legs under them, and place their head on the other hind leg, extended to the side (the extended hind leg allows the giraffe to quickly rise if danger approaches). 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 throughout the night!
More often, giraffes are found in groups. Adult females, adolescents and young animals are united in groups, the number of which rarely exceeds 20 individuals. The composition of such associations is not constant, animals join or leave them at will, a strong connection is observed only between females and their restless babies. On open spaces Animals more often form groups when grazing in forests - they disperse.
Group sizes also depend on the season of the year. At the height of the dry season, when there is less food, giraffes disperse across the savannah in small groups, at most 4-5 individuals. On the contrary, during the rainy season, when it is easier to feed, 10–15 animals unite.
Adult males move actively, covering up to 20 km a day in search of receptive females, and are often alone. The largest male in a given territory seeks to monopolize access to females. If another male gets in his way, the dominant takes a characteristic pose with his neck stretched vertically and his front legs tense, pointed towards the opponent. If he does not think to retreat, then a duel begins, where the main weapon turns out to be the neck. The animals strike each other with loud blows with their heads, aiming them at the enemy’s belly. 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 raised up.
Nutrition and feeding behavior
Giraffes graze for 12–14 hours a day, preferring dawn or dusk when the heat is not so intense. 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. They bend over for grass in exceptional cases, when young shoots sprout wildly after heavy rains. No matter what part of Africa giraffes graze, they prefer acacias, diversifying their menu with another 40–60 species woody plants. Giraffes survive severe periods of drought by eating the tough leaves of drought-resistant plants, as well as fallen leaves and dry pods of acacias.
Giraffes have a unique mouthparts. The lips are equipped with long hairs, from which information about the presence of spines and the degree of maturity of the leaves is sent to the brain through nerve canals. The purple tongue of the giraffe, flexible, strong and extremely mobile, reaches a length of 46 cm. When grazing, it slips past the thorns, curls 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 hold the desired plant in its mouth: the giraffe cuts it off with the incisors of the lower jaw. The giraffe pulls smooth branches through its mouth, where there is free space (diastema) between the premolars and fangs, tearing off all the leaves with its lips.
Like other ruminants, giraffes increase the digestibility of their feed by repeated chewing. In addition, they have unique ability chew food while on the move, which allows them to significantly increase their grazing time.
The giraffe eats relatively little for its size. Adult males consume about 66 kg of fresh greens every day, females - about 58 kg.
Since giraffes' food consists of 70% water, they do not need frequent watering, but if clean water is available, they drink it willingly. In some places, giraffes eat the soil, replenishing the lack of mineral salts in the body.
The relationship between giraffes and acacias, their main food, deserves special attention. For millions of years, there was an evolutionary “arms race” between them, during which both sides developed adaptations and counter-adaptations. On the one hand, there are sharp spines, thorns and hooks, as well as a high content of tannins - toxic substances that have a pungent taste. On the other hand, there is 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 acacia, 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 dust their heads and necks with pollen and spread it to dozens of trees, walking up to 20 km a day. Thus, for acacia, the loss of some flowers and buds is compensated by the spread of pollen and guaranteed pollination of the remaining flowers by giraffes.
Vocalization
For a long time it was believed that giraffes were voiceless. But in fact, they have a completely normal vocal apparatus, and they can make a whole range of different sounds. When in danger, giraffes snore, releasing air through their nostrils. Males that are excited or have grappled with an opponent emit a hoarse cough or growl. It happens that adult giraffes, having reached the height of excitement, roar loudly. Frightened cubs scream subtly and plaintively, without opening their lips.
Reproduction and raising of offspring
Giraffes do not have a specific breeding season. Adult males move from one group to another, sniffing females and determining their readiness to mate. The largest and strongest males participate in reproduction. Giraffe pregnancy lasts more than a year(15 months), after which one cub is born; twins are extremely rare. The 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 the trees, but does not stray 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 tastes its mother’s milk. The baby giraffe develops quickly, and after a week he is already running and jumping no worse than an adult animal. At the age of two weeks, the baby begins to try plant foods, but his mother feeds him milk for a whole year. She selflessly protects the cub from lions and hyenas, but, nevertheless, about half of the giraffes become prey to predators during the first year of life.
The cubs leave their mother at about 16 months of age.
A female giraffe gives birth to her first calf when she is 5 years old. If conditions are favorable, she will produce offspring every 18 months for up to 20 years. Males begin to reproduce at an older age.
Lifespan
In captivity, giraffes live up to 25 years (the record is 28 years), in the wild - less.
Giraffes at the Moscow Zoo
On the old territory of the zoo there is the “Giraffe House”, where everyone’s favorite, Samson Hamletovich Leningradov, lives. This is the only animal in the zoo with this full name. Samson was born in Leningrad Zoo in 1993 (hence the last name) and came to us at the age of three. Good-natured, peace-loving, he enjoys communicating with people.
Samson's favorite food is willow leaves, which he eats from branches suspended high in the enclosure. He eats hay or grass from a feeder, which is also located at a four-meter height. Even its automatic drinking bowl is raised by 2 meters. Samson is fed 3 times a day: in the morning he receives hay, branches and about 3 kg of rolled oats. During the day, they provide succulent food: vegetables and fruits (potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, bananas), which must be cut, otherwise the animal may choke. Samson first chooses bananas, apples and carrots, but by the evening he eats everything. At night, add hay to the feeder and give branches again. The branches are placed indoors, so sometimes, when you come to the zoo in the evening, you may not see Samson in the outdoor enclosure - he has gone off to eat his favorite willow.
Beginning with late autumn and until spring, about once a month, Samson is given a shower - watered with water from a hose. He becomes very animated - he runs around the enclosure, funnyly throwing up his long legs. In the summer, Samson washes in the rain: he likes the warm, light rain, but during a downpour he hurries to take shelter under the roof.
Samson belongs to the subspecies of reticulated giraffes, and in the New Territory of the zoo in the “Ungulates of Africa” pavilion you can see a giraffe of another, South African subspecies that came from Kenya. In summer the animal walks on fresh air, and in winter it is kept indoors. This is a female, her daily routine is the same as Samson’s, but she was born in the wild and therefore is not so sociable (trusting) with people. She spends most of her time at her feeders, but sometimes grazes on the grass growing in the clearing. At the same time, the long-necked and long-legged animal spreads its front legs wide and crouches funny. She is very peaceful with zebras and an ostrich, her neighbors in the enclosure, and sometimes even plays with them, going for short runs.
o a mammal of the giraffe genus of the giraffidae family, the tallest existing animal; body length 3-4 m, height at withers up to 3.7 m, height 5-6 m, weight 550-750 kg. The giraffe has a relatively small head on a disproportionately long neck, a sloping back, long legs and a tongue (up to 40-45 cm). The giraffe has only seven cervical vertebrae, like other mammals. Both males and females have small horns (sometimes two pairs) covered with black hair. There is often an additional unpaired horn in the middle of the forehead. There is no gall bladder, the cecum is very long. The forelimbs are longer than the hind limbs, the second and fifth fingers are absent. The hooves are low and wide. The fur is dense and short. The spotted coloration of giraffes from different places varies greatly. A pale yellow or brown background with dark spots is possible. Young animals are always lighter in color than older ones. At the end of the tail there is a tuft of long hair.
The most famous subspecies is the Masai giraffe, which has chocolate-brown irregular spots scattered across a yellowish background. A very beautiful subspecies of the reticulated giraffe, whose body is as if covered with a golden net. Albino giraffes are occasionally found. Exotic coloring helps the animal camouflage among trees.
Giraffes have the highest blood pressure of any mammal (three times that of humans). Compared to humans, his blood is thicker and contains twice as many blood cells. The giraffe’s heart weighs 7-8 kg and is capable of pumping blood (up to 60 liters of blood circulates in the giraffe’s body) to the brain to a height of 3.5 m. To drink water, the giraffe has to spread its front legs wide and lower its head low. At high level blood pressure in this position, bleeding in the brain does not occur only because in the jugular vein near the brain the giraffe has a closing valve system that limits the flow of blood to the head.
The giraffe lives in the savannas and dry woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It leads a diurnal lifestyle, is capable of moving at speeds of up to 50 km/h, and can also jump over obstacles and swim well. The giraffe rarely lives alone, usually forms small herds (7-12 individuals), less often up to 50-70. The composition of the herd is so random that it rarely includes the same animals two days in a row. Old males live separately. Sometimes fights for primacy occur between males, but they are never fierce. Giraffes sometimes even form common herds with antelopes and ostriches.
Its high growth allows the giraffe to feed on leaves, flowers, and young shoots of trees from the upper tier of vegetation. A giraffe can rear up and get food from a height of up to 7 m. It feeds in the morning and in the afternoon, spending the hottest hours half asleep, chewing cud. The animal feeds mainly on young shoots and buds of umbrella acacias, mimosas, and other trees and shrubs. With its long tongue, the giraffe can tear leaves from branches covered with large spines. It is inconvenient for a giraffe to get ground plants; to do this, he needs to kneel.
There is a strict hierarchy within the giraffe herd. A lower rank cannot cross the path of a higher one; he always lowers his neck somewhat in his presence. Giraffes are peace-loving animals. Only by defending social status is it possible to clarify the relationship. Male giraffes show each other their horns and then exchange blows to the body and neck. A duel is always bloodless. The terrible blow with the front hooves, with which a giraffe can successfully repel a lion’s attack, is not used during a duel. The defeated one is never expelled from the herd, as is the case with other herd animals. The giraffe has sensitive hearing and sharp eyesight. He moves while simultaneously extending his legs, located on one side of his body. An alarmed animal goes into a gallop at a speed of up to 60 km/h, can jump over obstacles and swim. To sleep, the giraffe lies on the ground, tucking its front legs and one of its hind legs under itself. The head is placed on the other hind leg, extended to the side. Night sleep often interrupted, the duration of complete deep sleep is 20 minutes per night.
Giraffes have a rut in July-August; males often fight for the female. The gestation period for giraffes is about 15 months. One calf is born, about 2 m tall, which is able to stand on its feet almost immediately after birth. During childbirth, members of the herd surround the expectant mother with a ring, protecting her from possible danger, and then greet the newborn by touching their noses. Lactation lasts 10 months. The giraffe becomes sexually mature at the age of three years. Natural enemies the giraffe has a little. Occasionally he becomes a victim of a lion, and sometimes dies while feeding, getting his head entangled in the branches. In a number of places, the giraffe was completely exterminated as a result of hunting for meat and skin and was preserved mainly in national parks.
Giraffes were kept in zoos by the ancient Egyptians 1500 BC, considering them to be the offspring of camels and leopards. The name camel oleopard (camelopardalis) has been retained as the scientific name of the species. The first giraffes appeared in European zoos at the beginning of the 20th century. They were transported across the sea on sailing ships, and across Europe on foot. Currently, giraffes are kept in every major zoo, and they reproduce well in captivity. The lifespan of giraffes is 20-30 years.
The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) belongs to the order of ruminant artiodactyls, the giraffidae family. The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. His height is approximately equal to the height of a two-story house. An adult male can reach a height of 6 m and weigh from 550 to 1800 kg. This mammal lives in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, on grassy and shrubby plains where isolated trees and tall bushes, the leaves of which giraffes feed on.
The giraffe has a very interesting appearance: bright protective coloring, long thin legs, long neck, at the end of which there is a small head with large ears and small horns. Both males and females have horns, with rounded ends and covered with delicate down. Giraffe horns are bony outgrowths and seem small, but they are 25 cm long. Some males grow a second pair of horns, behind the main one, and there is another one on the forehead. In addition, he has huge eyes, fringed with long eyelashes.
Like all mammals, the giraffe's neck consists of only seven cervical vertebrae, but they are elongated. No land animal has a neck like the giraffe. Thanks to her, the five-meter giant, like a sentry, rises above the savannah. Thanks to her, he reaches the acacia leaves at the tops. He plucks these leaves with his long, rough tongue. (Since male giraffes are 1 m taller than females, they eat foliage on different heights and therefore do not compete for food.)
The answer has been found. Giraffes have thicker blood than other mammals and have more blood cells. Consequently, each cubic milliliter of blood carries more oxygen needed by the brain, and it is easier to push it upward. When the giraffe's blood pressure was measured, it turned out to be 200 mmHg. Art., and with a sharp tilt of the head, the pressure drops only to 175 mm Hg. Art. The answer to this is the presence of special locking valves that are located in the great jugular vein. It is this complex vessel that performs the function of a blood “depot” and equalizes pressure in the brain.
The tail is about 1 m long, with a tuft of hair at the tip. When a giraffe does not move, it becomes invisible among the trees. Thanks to the spots on its skin, it can be mistaken for an old, cracked tree, and its long legs can be mistaken for tree trunks. The skin of a giraffe makes a very bad smell, which allows the animal to escape from insects.
Giraffes have well-developed vision and hearing. And due to his height, he can also see far around, which allows him to notice approaching predators in time. If danger threatens, the giraffe very quickly takes off and runs away.
Since ancient times, giraffes have evoked a feeling of admiration. And the Arab rulers presented this animal as a gift as a sign of peace and harmony. There is a misconception that giraffes do not communicate. In fact, they talk to each other using bleats and grunts, and the cubs whistle.
The giraffe runs quite fast. It can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. This is enough to escape the pursuit of such a fierce enemy as a lion.
Giraffes graze in small herds of up to 50 individuals. The herd consists of a male and several females with cubs. There is a strict hierarchy within the herd. Despite their peaceful appearance, male giraffes fight every year, figuring out who is more important. Standing side by side and spreading their legs wide apart, the duelists rhythmically swing their heads and push together with all their might with their bent necks. The males measure their strength, striking each other with their necks until finally one of them gains the upper hand over the enemy and puts him to flight, but the defeated one is never expelled from the herd. The sounds of the impacts can be heard hundreds of meters away, it seems as if a tree is being cut down.
The age of puberty occurs at 4 years of age. Once every 2 years, after a short courtship, the female gives birth to only one cub. The duration of pregnancy is from 420 to 450 days. A newborn weighs 50-70 kg and reaches a height of more than 2 m. Half an hour after birth, the baby can already stand on his feet. The rest of the herd surrounds the mother and greets the baby by touching their noses. 10 days after birth, the female and cub join the herd. The giraffe is one of the few animals that are born with horns. The cartilaginous horns still hang to the sides. In the first month he gains 23 cm per week. By the end of the first year, the giraffe stretches up to 3.5 m.
Life expectancy is approximately 25 years in the wild and more than 30 years in captivity. Adult giraffes have almost no enemies, and they can even fight off a lion with their hooves. Lions can only cope with a very small giraffe that has strayed from the herd, and even then if its mother is not nearby, otherwise they are in danger of a powerful blow from the hoof. In addition, nature has endowed giraffes with such camouflage coloring that when giraffes stand in a group of umbrella acacia trees, among the burnt-out bushes of the African bush, under the sheer rays of the sun, the mosaic of shadows and sun spots seems to dissolve and eat up the contours of the animals. When a giraffe stands motionless, it can be mistaken for an old tree, riddled with cracks; when the giraffe's body is hidden by the branches of bushes, its long legs seem like tree trunks.
Giraffes come in a variety of colors, but most often they are yellowish-brown in color with dark spots that are evenly distributed throughout the body.
The most famous are the Masai and reticulated giraffes. The main color of the first is yellowish-red, with chocolate-brown spots scattered on it. In the second, the spots almost merge, and the resulting yellow stripes resemble a golden mesh. The Nubian giraffe has dark polygons separated by a thin, light-colored mesh. The Baringo giraffe has spots with a darker, star-shaped center. The Kenyan giraffe has irregularly shaped spots with sinuous contours. The southern giraffe has dark spots with smooth contours. The pattern of giraffes' coat varies from individual to individual and darkens with age. Each giraffe has its own unique pattern on its skin, which can serve as a kind of identification card for them.
During drought, the giraffe's long neck and front legs allow it to reach the treetops. Using their long - up to 45 cm - sticky black tongues, they grab these leaves and tear them off the branch. Eating enough succulent leaves, giraffes can go without water for many weeks. During periods of drought, these animals can feed on thorny shoots.
It is difficult for a giraffe to drink from a pond because long neck. The forelimbs of giraffes are longer than the hind limbs; Because of this unique physical feature, they are forced to spread their legs wide apart or kneel to drink.
Giraffes are vegetarians. Favorite tree giraffes - the umbrella acacia tries to defend itself, grows long thorns, but the hard lips of these animals don’t care! They feed early in the morning and late in the evening, and spend the hottest time of the day half asleep, standing in the shade among the trees. It is very difficult for them to rise to their feet from the ground, so giraffes even sleep standing up, with their heads on their backs. But their sleep lasts no more than 20 minutes a day, in short periods of 3-4 minutes.
Giraffes never swim, and even try not to cross streams and rivers that come across their path, because they do not like dampness. They wait out the rain by standing under the trees.
In the rain tropical forests The Congo is home to the second species of the giraffe family - okapi: also a ruminant animal that eats tree leaves. Okapi is a timid loner, running away from the slightest rustle and grazing mainly at night. It is not surprising that Europeans learned about him only in 1897 from the words of pygmies who told about a forest horse; they called her "okapi". It was not until 1901, when the skin and skull of the animal were sent to London, that the okapi was described as the new kind. But even today, few people have seen okapi in the wild.
Giraffes are also endangered and are protected. Their numbers are artificially increased within the framework of the European Breeding Program for Endangered Species.
Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
| Magnitude | Body length 3-4 m, tail - 0.9-1.1 m, height with head 4.5-5.8 m; weight 500-800 kg |
| Signs | Long legs and neck; on the head there are 2-5 skin-covered “horns” (bone outgrowths); fur light yellow to brown with light and dark spots or a network of fine white lines (Masai giraffe) |
| Nutrition | Buds, leaves, shoots and fruits of trees and shrubs; sometimes herbs |
| Reproduction | Pregnancy 14.5-16.5 months; 1 cub, rarely 2; birth weight 95-100 kg |
| Habitats | Savannah with rare trees and bushes; in the sub-Saharan belt from Western to East Africa, and also in South Africa |
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