The Giraffe

World Record Holder

      Did you know that giraffes are the tallest living land animals in the world? Some individuals top the tape measure at more than 17 feet tall and can weigh up to 2,600 pounds! So what makes giraffes so tall? First of all, there’s their impressively long neck, which looks like it’s been stretched. Giraffes’ neck makes up almost half of the animals’ total height, and while you might think their neck has a lot of bones, it actually has the same number of bones as the human neck: seven! Giraffes’ neck bones are just MUCH bigger than a humans’. Adding to their extraordinary height are giraffes’ legs, which are longer than an average man is tall.

      The most distinctively patterned of the eight subspecies of giraffes are the reticulated giraffes. Found in the northeastern region of Kenya in Africa, reticulated giraffes get their name from their coat, which has brown, box-like patterns (called a reticulated pattern) on it. Each animal has a unique pattern of spots, much like a human fingerprint. Giraffes have no competition when it comes to finding food. Their long neck helps them browse places other animals can’t reach: the treetops. Spending many hours each day feasting, giraffes use their strong, flexible 17-inch-long tongue to grasp leaves that appear just out of reach.

      Have you ever seen a giraffe drink from a pond? It can be quite a sight because giraffes have to spread their legs very, very wide to stoop low enough for a drink! Since leaves provide a lot of moisture, giraffes can go without water for many weeks, even months, at a time. Giraffes have extremely sharp eyesight and excellent hearing. They can see and smell great distances, which helps them stay alert for predators such as lions. Giraffes can spot a moving person a mile away!

Contents are courtesy of the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo.