Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Clade | Synapsida |
Class | Mammalia |
Order | Artiodactyla |
Family | Giraffidae |
Genus | Giraffa |
Scientific Name | Giraffa |

Giraffe Description
- The giraffe is the tallest of the world’s terrestrial animal. It is also the largest ruminant animal.
- Four out of seven species are living today.
- Giraffes have acute hearing and smelling sense.
- They can recognize color.
- Giraffes can only walk or gallop.
- They sleep 4 – 5 hours a day.
- While they cannot swim properly giraffes can float in water.
- Giraffe consumes 34 kg of foliage daily.
- They fight with necks. Giraffe’s fight is called ‘necking’.
Size & Weight
Adults
- HEIGHT: 4.3–5.7 m (14.1–18.7 ft)
- WEIGHT: (Male) 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) (Female) 828 kg (1,825 lb)
- TONGUE: 45 cm (18 in)
- NECK: 2–2.4 m (6.6–7.9 ft)
- TAIL: 3.3 feet
Newborns
- HEIGHT: 7–2 m (5.6–6.6 ft)
Largest Specimen
- HEIGHT: (Male) 88 m (19.3 ft) (Female) 5.17 m (17.0 ft)
- WEIGHT: (Male) 1,930 kg (4,250 lb) (Female) 1,180 kg (2,600 lb)
Giraffe’s Heart
- LENGTH: 60 cm (2 ft)
- WEIGHT: 11 kg (25 lb)
- BEATS PER MINUTE: 150 bpm
Habitat
Savannahs, woodlands, Terminalia woodlands, Acacieae, Combretum
Range
North and South Africa
Diet
Twigs of trees, shrubs, fruit, barks, grass,
Reproduction
1 calf
Mating Period
Wet season
Gestation Period
400–460 days
Weaning Period
30 – 365 days
Sexual Maturity
- 4 – 5 years (Male)
- 4 years (Female)
Population
- 97,500 (wild)
- 1,144 (captivity)
Lifespan
25 years
Average Speed
50 km/h (31 mph)
Maximum Speed
60 km/h (37 mph)
Calls
Snorts, mooing, mewing, bleats
Group Size
44 individuals
Group Name
Herd
Baby Name
- Bull or sire (Male)
- Cow (Female)
Predators
Leopards, wild dogs, Nile crocodile, spotted hyenas
Behavior
Non-territorial
Conservation Status
Vulnerable