Giraffes are Pretty

Hi guys, long time no blog!

In this new semester, my first blog will be about ANIMALS!

GIRAFFE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, GIVE ME STRENGTH TO FINISH THIS BLOG

yup, I choose Giraffe.

Giraffe is a long-necked ruminant of the African savannah, the tallest living land animal. Seven other species are extinct, and the IUCN currently recognizes only one species with nine subspecies. Characterized by its long legs, long neck, its horn-like ossicones, and distinctive spotted pattern. Giraffes usually inhabit savanna and forest. Their source of food is the leaves, fruits, and flowers of woody plants, especially the acacia species, which they can see at an altitude that can not be reached by other herbivores. They may be devoured by lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs.

Many people first believed the giraffe was a cross between a leopard and a camel, which is reflected in its scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis. 
Here's the scientific classification of Giraffe,

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order : Artiodactyla

Family : Giraffidae

Genus : Giraffa

Species : Giraffa camelopardalis 

Their long tongues are helpful in eating because they help pull leaves from the trees. Spending most of the day eating, a full-grown giraffe consumes over 45 kg of leaves and twigs a day. 

The male giraffe is both taller and heavier than the female. Both have skin-covered knobs or prominent horn-like structures, called ossicones, on the top of their heads. Female ossicones are smaller and have a small tuft of fur on top, while male ossicones are bald on the top. These knobs are used to protect the head when males fight, which involves swinging their necks at each other in a show of strength called “necking.” The one-metre (3.3-ft) tail ends in a long, dark tuft of hair and is used as a defense against insects. The giraffe's prehensile tongue is about 45 cm long. It is purplish-black in colour, perhaps to protect against sunburn, and is useful for grasping foliage, as well as for grooming and cleaning the animal's nose.

Giraffe Skeleton on Display at The Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma.

When giraffes walk, they move both legs on one side of their body and then both legs on the other side; this is unique to giraffes. However, they run in a similar style to other mammals, swinging their rear legs and front legs in unison. They can reach 55 km/h (35 mph) at full speed but only in brief spurts.

Giraffes sleep less than two hours a day. In general, they sleep with their feet tucked under them and their head resting on their hindquarters, but they can also sleep for short periods of time standing up.

Female giraffes can become pregnant at 5 years old. They carry a baby for 15 months and give birth while standing up. Newborns are about 2 m (6 ft.) tall and weigh 70 kg (150 lb.). 

Right Hind Leg of A Masai Giraffe

Giraffes defend themselves against predators by kicking with either the fore or hind feet. Their large and heavy hooves can break the back of a lion. 

They live up to 25 years in the wild.

Fun facts, Giraffes are ruminants. This means that they have more than one stomach. In fact, giraffes have four stomachs, and the extra stomachs assisting with digesting food.

What kind of a sound does Giraffe make?

They don't oink, moo or roar. But new research suggests perhaps giraffes do have a distinct sound: They hum. It was previously believed that giraffes may make sounds that are impossible for humans to hear, similar to elephants, but the new research suggests otherwise. The researchers recorded humming sounds that the giraffes made only at night. The humming was 92Hz in frequency, which is still audible to humans but pretty low.

What do I like about Giraffes? That they are really pretty, tall, and the skin is also beautiful, but let's not forgot about Giraffes eyelashes. They are so pretty, maybe even prettier than mine. Those eyelashes are used for to keep sand out of their eyes. 

Before I end this blog, I will give you some questions (with the answers) about this guy, Giraffe.

1. What is the correct sentences according the text?
a. Giraffe tongue is purple.
b. Female giraffes can become pregnant at 4 years old.
c. Giraffe live up to 25 years in the wild.
d. They can reach 56 km/h at full speed but only in brief spurts.
e. Giraffe only have one stomach.

2. How does a Giraffe walk?
a. With five legs.
b. They move both legs on one side of their body and then both legs on the other side.
c. They can reach 55 km/h at full speed but only in brief spurts.
d. Swinging their rear legs and front legs in unison
e. By kicking with either the fore or hind feet.

3. How long does Giraffe life span in the wild?
a. 25 months 
b. 27 years
c. 13 years 
d. 25 years 
e. 5 months

4. What do we call males fighting in a show of strength?
a. Boxing
b. Taekwondo
c. Legging
d. Wrestling
e. Necking

5. What is the scientific name for Giraffe?
a. Giraffe Giraffa
b. Giraffa camelopardalis 
c. Camel leopard
d. Giraffa leopard
e. Giraffe camelo

Well, that's enough from me. This been a really fun blog for me, talking about one of my favorites animal, Giraffe. So, see you guys in my next blog!

references:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe
http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/giraffe/
www.pinterest.com