Interesting giraffe facts

September 17, 2009 | In: Animal facts for kids

Giraffes are the tallest animal on earth.

The male giraffe is known to have a height of 4.8 to 5.5 meters (16 to 18 feet tall) and weighs up to 1300 kilograms .

The average lifespan of a giraffe in the wild is 25 years.

A giraffe eats about 140 pounds of food a day.

The long-limbed giraffe walks with both legs on one side lifted at the same time. This type of walk, called a “pace,” is similar to the way camels walk and allows a longer stride, helping these animals conserve energy.

However, giraffes gallop like a rabbit, with the front legs and back legs moving in unison. Like a rabbit, a giraffe positions its front legs inside its back legs when galloping to prevent its long legs from getting tangled up.

Giraffes have a top speed of about 37 miles per hour (60 km/hr).

It is possible to identify the sex of the giraffe from the horns on its head. Both males and females have horns but the females are smaller and covered with hair at the top. Male giraffes may have up to 3 additional horns.

To become the leader of a giraffe herd, you need to stand the tallest with the longest neck of all.

Giraffes sleep only about a half an hour per day, usually in shorter nap form.

A giraffe’s heart weighs an incredible 24 pounds.

Giraffes have black tongues.

A giraffe can stock up on water and then go without drinking for long periods of time.

The animal with the longest tail is also the animal with the longest neck – the giraffe – but only among the males (females have much shorter tails). A giraffe’s tail can grow up to eight feet (about two and a half meters)!