At 5.5 meters, the giraffe is no doubt the tallest animal on the Earth. Sadly, that's exactly where our knowledge about the graceful animal ends. Have you ever wondered why giraffes have such long, spindly legs and a gigantic neck? These are the adaptations that have helped them survive their changing habitat. And many people don't even know that giraffes are only found on the continent of Africa.
Giraffe Range and Habitat
Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) inhabit the savannas and open woodlands of Africa. Their geographical range spans from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south. While that may seem a vast range for a single species, the fact is that today they are only found in small pockets of this vast area.
If at all you can find them, it will be in areas covered by Acacia, a kind of spiny tree or shrub that they love to feast on. Adult giraffes have about a 27-inch long tongue. These mammals also love to feed on Baobab leaves. With their long neck, long legs, and long tongue, they can eat leaves from branches high up where other animals cannot reach.
Giraffes live in herds. A single adult male giraffe needs about 100 pounds of food per day. So imagine how much food a herd of 8-10 giraffes needs! Even more surprising is the fact that they live in grasslands where trees are scarce, even though all their adaptations seem built for eating leaves from tall branches.
How Do They Survive Here?
Giraffes spend about 18 hours a day feeding on tree leaves, shrubs, and even grass at times. They mainly feed on the Acacia and Combretum trees, but will eat the leaves of other trees when their favorite food is scarce. Half the time, giraffes lower their neck to graze on plants and shrubs below their shoulder level. The rest of the time, their necks are at an angle of 50 to 60 degrees, plucking leaves from branches above their shoulder level.
Their upper lip and pink and black tongue help them pluck fresh leaves, delicate shoots, and tasty flowers from trees. Though the Acacia tree has thorns, giraffes either push them aside or cover them with leaves and their thick, gluey saliva, so the thorns don't damage their mouth. A giraffe can store its food in one of the four compartments of its stomach. This means it can survive without food, or with very little food, for several days during a drought.
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What about Water?
Despite that huge neck, giraffes only have 7 vertebrae in it, the same number as most other mammals! Ball and socket joints in the vertebrae, plus elastic blood vessels, make the neck flexible. But bending down to drink water is still very difficult for them.
Normally, giraffes can see everything within 360 degrees with ease. But when they bend to drink water, they are in an awkward position. At that moment, they cannot see predators or poachers (which often frequent the area in search of rhinos and elephants). That makes them vulnerable.
Interestingly, giraffes have adapted to this problem. When they find abundant water, they gulp it fast. A giraffe can drink about 10 gallons of water in a minute without choking! After that, it can survive without water for several days. For them, morning dew or water found in leaves is enough for survival in between. The valves in the veins of their neck ensure they don't faint when they bend down to drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do giraffes live?
Giraffes live in the savannas and open woodlands of Africa, ranging from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south.
What do giraffes eat?
Giraffes mainly eat leaves from Acacia and Combretum trees, spending about 18 hours a day feeding.
How do giraffes drink water?
Giraffes must awkwardly splay their front legs to bend down to water. When they find a waterhole, they drink up to 10 gallons in a minute, then can go days without drinking again.
A Habitat Under Threat
Giraffes need plenty of open space with trees and shrubs, and a source of water. That makes savanna grasslands their perfect home. But humans are encroaching on these grasslands and destroying them.
Like we said at the beginning, it is this destruction of habitat that is affecting the giraffe population. We are losing our natural wealth and disturbing the environment, something that has already led to the extinction of several species. And going by current trends, the giraffe may as well be the next to go.
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Fun fact for today!Giraffes are only found on the continent of Africa!