10 Fascinating Giraffe Facts You Probably Didn't Know
Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world, standing between 4.8 and 6 meters tall. They have cute, gentle expressions on their faces, and their fur is very conspicuous because of the various shapes of spots all over them. Without a doubt, giraffes are very unique creatures. However, not everything can be attributed to their height and size, as they have many other characteristics that make them admirable animals. This time, Alie will bring you: 10 interesting facts about giraffes you may not know.
1Giraffes sleep very little
Because they are so large, we think they need a lot of sleep to rest properly, but in fact, they don't. They only need a little rest. They need 2 to 3 hours a day, and each nap lasts 5 to 7 minutes. In the wild, they can even stand up to sleep so that they can escape if there is danger. If they lie on the ground, their long necks will form an arch.
2Giraffes have very long tongues
Giraffes' tongues are as long as their necks. This length can even reach 50 centimeters, which allows them to eat their favorite food, hibiscus leaves, without avoiding thorns. In addition, the tongue can also be used as a cleaning tool, used to clean their ears, drill into their noses, or pull out thorns that penetrate their skin.
3Age spots
The spots on a giraffe's skin can indicate their age, especially in males. The darker the markings, the older they are. The color of the fur also indicates the maturity of males.
4Spot patterns are as unique as fingerprints
No two giraffes have the same spot patterns. Like human fingerprints, these are very unique. This detail can be used to camouflage themselves, regulate temperature, and recognize each other. The shape of these spots seems to be passed from mother to son, although the reason is not yet clear.
5Giraffes can tolerate thirst
They can tolerate not drinking water for several days because when they drink water, they can drink up to 45 liters at a time. This way, they can survive in arid areas for up to three weeks without drinking a drop of water.
6Giraffes are fast
Giraffes' large size doesn't prevent them from moving quickly. Their speed can reach 50 km / h. But this is only in short distances, because they will quickly tire. When traveling long distances, they can maintain a speed of 10 km / h.
7Gender indicators horns
The 'horns' on a giraffe's head, called ossicone, are made of bone-like cartilage and covered with hair. Its appearance allows us to distinguish their gender. For example, the tip of the ossicone in females has a tuft of hair, while in males it is bald.
8Giraffes don't yawn
Because their mouths, covered with hair, are in a special shape, giraffes are the only mammals that don't yawn. Their upper lip is not split like a camel's, and it is longer.
9Prepared cervical veins
With a neck that is 3 meters long, it is natural for a giraffe to bend over to drink water, which is a difficult choice because all the blood will flow to the head, which is unthinkable. However, this is not the case, because they have special valve systems in their necks, which resist great pressure, to prevent blood from dripping suddenly.
10Number of cervical vertebrae is the same as humans
Giraffes' necks are 3 meters long, which makes it easy to think that they have many vertebrae. But in fact, they have 7 vertebrae, but each one can be up to 28 centimeters long.
