Special Sub-Topic: Giraffes Click Here To Play: Giraffes

We all know that giraffes have long necks but excatly how many vertebrae(bones) are in that amazing neck?

seven. Amazingly enough they have the same number we do. However, unlike us, they have a special joint that allows them to raise their heads vertically in line with thier necks.

Giraffes only come in one color and pattern.

f. There are at least nine different patterns. Colors range from brown on blonde blotches to a deep reddish brown.

A giraffe's front legs are longer than its back legs.

f. They only appear to have longer front legs because their spine angles down towards the rump.

Which is NOT an African name for the animal we know as the giraffe?

Langlumes. Langlumes was a French caricaturist in the 1800's. Twiga is Swahili for giraffe, in Zulu it's Indlulamethi, and in Afrikaans it is Kameelperd.

All giraffe have spots (sometimes called blotches).

f. There are many subspecies of giraffes. The Reticulated, Masai, Rothchild (or Baringo), Nubian, Nigerian, Angola, Cape,and Thornicroft are all subspecies of the giraffe.. All subspecies inter breed freely. So some are born without spots. There are documented cases of solid white, tan and almost black giraffes born to spotted parents.

Giraffes are mute.

f. Giraffes have vocal cords but rarely use them.

Giraffes are born with horns.

t. Giraffes are born with horns. They can have two to five horns.The horns get bonier with age.

How long is a giraffe's pregnancy?

fifteen months. They give birth standing up.The baby is born in an hour or so---dropped to the ground. Ouch! They are nearly 6 feet tall at birth and are up walking within 15 minutes.

Giraffes have eighteen inch long tongues.

t. Giraffes use their long tongues to strip leaves from trees.

85% of the children in Africa have never seen giraffes in the wild.

t. Sad but true. (According to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife.) Giraffes are not endangered.