Known as the tallest terrestrial mammal, and standing at more than 5m tall, the giraffe (Giraffa giraffa giraffa) is one of the most popular animals to see in the bush.
As exceptional pollinators of the mighty Knobthorn tree, giraffes are incredibly good at blending in and can sometimes be tricky to spot despite their tall stature.
Giraffes have brown “spots” or blotches as coat markings, and each individual has a unique pattern.
These patterns are also different across the various species and subspecies found across Africa.
Adult males are larger than females, and can weigh up to 1500kg, while females may reach 950kg.
The natural lifespan of a giraffe is roughly 20 years.
Did you know?
In 2021, genetic analysis of the various giraffe populations revealed that the giraffe we see here are a subspecies of the Southern giraffe, which is the giraffe species that can be found in the Southern African region.
In total, there are now four species of giraffe, which encompasses seven subspecies (see table).
A subspecies refers to a subgroup of a species, found in a different location, usually with slightly different physical and/or genetic characteristics.
Fun Facts:
- There is a common misconception that male giraffes are always darker than females. In reality, giraffe coat colour is genetic and based on age.
While there is a general “rule of thumb” where males are usually darker than females, most giraffes will darken as they get older, and new research indicates this may even be affected by tannin levels in the foliage they eat. - When determining the sex of giraffes, it is more reliable to use their “horns”, called ossicones. Adult males will be bald on the tops of their ossicones, while females will have fluffy tufts of black or dark hair.
- A giraffe’s skin is also very tight on the legs, acting as “compression socks” for circulation! Similarly, giraffes have a very thick and well adapted epidermis (outer skin layer). Giraffes are known to circulate roughly 60l of blood every minute, and also have extra valves and capillary networks in the neck to control blood flow and avoid a “head rush” when lifting the head up after drinking.
- While most people believe giraffes do not have a voice box, and as such cannot emit sounds, this is actually not the case. Giraffes have a number of vocalisations for communication, including a high-pitched hum that is often only audible to children or persons with ears that are sensitive to higher frequencies.
Words by Tess Woollgar. Images courtesy of Ingrid Passier, Tessa Woolgar & Josh Hibbet