from it once two representatives mold-are enough and only remain widespread family of the giraffes today: the giraffe from the subfamily the long-neck, or steppe-giraffes (Giraffinae) and the Okapi from the subfamily the short-neck, or forest-giraffes (Okapiinae). Both live in Africa south from the Sahara.
Subtypes From the giraffe, 8 subtypes are known, that partially itself in the Fleckung and partially in the number of the horns distinguishes. So, Z points. B. the net-giraffe a reticular, white line-pattern, that shows with the Massaigiraffe of much more strongly divided edges, on so that a "wine-leaf-pattern" originates. Nevertheless one certainly knows today, that all these variations in a type belong, because they can be combined among each other without further and fertile descendants testify.
Physique Giraffes reach the biggest body-height with a total-height of 5,8 m, with a weight of up to 1900 kg, from all animals. Long front-legs and a long neck lead to this extreme body-form. As with other mammals, so however the neck exists only from 7 fuss also with giraffes. With approximately 2 m of neck, however, the fuss-bodies are up to 40 cm big. If a giraffe bends the neck to the side, one recognizes the size of the individual fuss-bodies by its angular outlines.
The to the back falling torso works shortly in the relationship to the height of the animal. The shoulder juts out, the shoulder-joint is at the breast, densely below the neck-base. The neck carries a Stehmähne on its whole length. One tuft of dark hair is at the upper edge of the forehead-leg-bone-taps. The nose-holes are slit-shaped and can be locked. The tail-tassel consists of black, powerful hair from up to 0,5 m of length.
The extraordinary body-height of the giraffes brings physiological problems with itself, that require a special capability of the animals.
When ruminating, the food-mash from the net-stomach must be back-transported highly into the mouth until over 3 m! This succeeds with help of the muscular esophagus, that pushes the food-portion in a contraction-wave upward. It lets itself this always higher climbing prolonging and constriction of the neck observe well at ruminant giraffes.
A much more difficult problem is the pressurization with the circulation of the head-region if the head is lifted and is lowered. So a giraffe can have its head at the water-reception at the ground and can later raise these seconds on 5 m of height. No bloodless happens in the brain on that occasion. Extremely muscular arteries, a complicated system of valve-tabs in the veins and a "miracle-net" of blood-storing arteries at the brain-basis worries in the interplay, that the blood pressure-fluctuations remain minimal. The pressure-regulation is steered precisely.
The "urination" of the giraffes can last several minutes. Giraffes choose ground-reasons, that prevent the spraying the hind legs largely, to it.
Locomotion Giraffes are Paßgänger, the absence of an instep-skin points it out between torso and limbs. With danger, giraffes can also gallop. The front-legs are tossed in this walk to the front, while moves according to the neck backwards in order to hold the balance. If the front-legs are put on, they grasp rear-limbs out over the front-legs far forward. Giraffes gain speeds of over 50 km per hour this way. Through the balance-movements and swinging of the legs, the gallop of the giraffes is a strangely swinging walk.
The Klettervermögen of the giraffes is low. Relatively low embankments form an insurmountable obstacle for it. Giraffes like not to go into the water. However, there are reports, after which seas wade across, became and the giraffes even waters durchschwammen.
In the deck chair, the giraffes beat its legs, that are bent in hand and heel-joints, under the torso. A hind leg always is something extended in this situation.
At the escape or with arousal, giraffes bend its tail on the side, so that aufliegt this the thigh.
Habitat Savannas with umbrella-acacias, thornbush-steppes and light gallery-forests are the residence of the giraffes. Dense forests, wetlands and terrains with sheer hillsides avoid it. its habitat, giraffes are on tried in ideal manner. they overlook a wide area, find food everywhere and have to fear only few enemies. In the culture-landscape, however, the existence is impeded them with fences between the pasture-surfaces. they therefore retreat more and more into the always smaller growing tree-savanna.
Way of life Giraffes live in herds of approximately 10-20 animals. Herds from more than 50 copies are however also observed. Bulls are loners occasionally. A herd consists females with young of 1 or 2 adult bulls and a number. Bachelor-herds also occur.
The fights are had only between male rivals. The militants place themselves opposite each other or parallel to each other. Then, they swing back with the necks far and hit each other the head-arms like clubs against neck and breast. The underdog retreats without the winner pursuing it. Injuries occur at such duels hardly once. The Ranghöhere shows its position within the herd through raised head-attitude. No Rangniederer should get in the way unpunished of it. Giraffe-herds don't have any solid precincts without exception. They roam within an extended area far. Antelopes, zebras and ostriches come together with the giraffes.
The good eyesight of the giraffes, through which they recognize from high attendants from dangers early, benefits the other big-animals of the steppe. Giraffes often are accompanied by maggot-hackers and other Starenvögeln, that peck insects them from the fur or simply use the giraffes only as seat or lookout.
The sleep is a dozing or drowse predominantly in standing or in lying with raised head. The senses still are quite awake in this silence-phase so that a giraffe is not to be surprised easily. The low-sleep is to be recognized by the back-bent neck. The lower jaw rests on the lower leg on that occasion. Adult giraffes sink in low-sleep after captivity-observations every night only for few minutes. In every night, several short sleep-periods result in a total-duration of barely one half hour. However, young sleep longer. Snifters sleep-periods are a protection against surprises.
As an enemy of the giraffes, lion, leopard and hyena-dog are possible besides the human being. The giraffe defends herself through powerful hits with front and hind legs.
The voice of the giraffes is to rarely be heard, it is described as bleating or grunt. The dam lures its young through Fiepen.
Giraffes are to often be found if they linger under a tree. In this position, they hardly attract attention. The fur-drawing reminds of sun-curls and dissolves the body-outline. However, the giraffe observes its surroundings keenly meanwhile.
Reproduction After a Tragzeit of approximately 450 days, it was born the giraffe-kid. Twin-births are rare. Head and front-legs first step out of the birth-opening. Since the birth takes place in standing, the young falls from almost 2 m of height down. The newborn has a body-height from 1,5 m to 1,8 m.
The forehead-fort-sentences already are well developed in the birth, however they are still bent after the vertex and straighten up only in the run of the first both life-weeks. After 3 weeks, giraffe-boy begins to eat. In the age of 4 months, they start to ruminate. The sexually mature steps in the 5. Year of life one.
Nutrition The giraffes graze the foliage of trees. they hardly have food-competitors on that occasion. The acacia-foliage and this - branches is its main-food. Thorns are either with-eaten or thanks to the long tongue and the movable waiter-lip skillful avoided. To the water-reception, giraffes spread its front-legs and bend in the elbow-joints. So, the long neck reaches the water-surface.
Endangering In East-Africa, giraffes still frequently occur that in west-Africa, however, they are strongly threatened through poachers.
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