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Giraffe
Giraffa Camelopardalis
-33.4397, 25.9675
Field Notes
Description:
Ancient cultures in Africa revered the giraffe, as some modern cultures do today, and commonly depicted it in prehistoric rock and cave paintings.
The Giraffe moves about the semi-arid regions in groups. Its height allows it to keep in contact with other giraffes over large distances as well as spotting predators from afar. It is not uncommon to see other animals following a giraffe using it as an early predator warning system. The Giraffe is vulnerable when drinking. It is a quiet species although the males fight viciously for dominance over the group.
The neck is so long the giraffe must spread its front legs apart so its head can reach the ground to drink. It has unusually elastic blood vessels with a series of valves that help offset the sudden buildup of blood (and to prevent fainting) when the head is raised, lowered or swung quickly.
Habitat:
Eastern Cape, SA
Notes:
You can tell the gender of a giraffe by looking at it's horns - the females have hair on the ends but the males rub them bald when they fight. The 'fights' are really interesting - they swing their necks together in an attempt to gain dominance over each other.
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