The giraffe is an African mammal that is subject to extinction. It lives on grass and plants and is characterized by its long neck, long legs, and dark spots on the body. The giraffe’s neck is what distinguishes it most among all animals, so we will discuss a set of important and interesting information about the giraffe’s neck and the number of vertebrae in this neck. And other important information about this animal.
The number of cervical vertebrae in a giraffe
Recognizable worldwide by their long necks, long legs, and distinctive coloration, giraffes can reach 18 feet in length and weigh more than 4,200 pounds. The giraffe's long neck contains seven elongated cervical vertebrae, the same number of human neck vertebrae, but they are elongated. The thick-walled arteries in the neck have additional valves to counteract gravity when the head is up; When the giraffe lowers its head to the ground, special vessels at the base of the brain control blood pressure .
The skull of the female giraffe reaches its full adult development at about 10 years of age, but the skull and neck of the male giraffe continue to grow throughout its life. This phenomenon and characteristics reflect this adaptation through the open sutures visible on the skull of the male, which continue to allow greater bone growth than that of the female.
Important information about the giraffe
Giraffe At around 5 meters (16-18 ft) tall, the giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world.
Distinguished by its long legs, long neck, and distinctive spotted pattern, many people first believed that the giraffe was a cross between a tiger and a camel, which is reflected in its scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis.
Giraffes live mainly in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Their extreme height allows them to eat leaves and buds much higher than other animals can reach. In particular, they are looking for the acacia plant . Their long tongues are useful for eating as they help pull leaves from trees.
A full-grown giraffe consumes more than 45 kg (100 lb) of leaves and twigs per day, spending most of the day eating.
The male giraffe is taller and heavier than the female. Both sexes have skin-covered knobs, called bones, on their heads. Female ossicles are smaller and have a small tuft of fur on top, while male ossicles are hairless on top. These knobs are used to protect the head when fighting males, which involves swinging their necks at each other in a show of strength called "necking".
When giraffes walk, they move both legs on one side of the body and then both legs on the other side, which is unique to giraffes. However, it functions in a similar fashion to other mammals, with its hind legs and front legs swinging in unison.
A giraffe can reach 55 km/h (35 mph) at top speed but only in short spurts.
Giraffes sleep less than two hours a day. Generally, they sleep with their feet tucked under them and their heads straight at the back, but they can also sleep for short periods standing.
Female giraffes can become pregnant at the age of 5. They carry a baby for 15 months and give birth while standing.
Newborn giraffes are about 2 meters (6 feet) long and weigh 70 kilograms (150 pounds).
Giraffes live for a long time compared to many other animals, as they live up to 25 years in the wild.
Giraffes grow to their full length around four years of age but gain weight until they are seven or eight.
Males weigh up to 1,930 kg (4,250 lbs), and females up to 1,180 kg (2,600 lbs).
The tail may be a meter long, with a long black tuft at the end; There is also a short black mane.
Both sexes have two horns, although males have other bony projections on the skull. There are only seven cervical vertebrae.
The horns of the giraffe are not real horns, but they are formed from cartilage . These bones are part of the skull, and they are covered with skin and hair. Giraffe antlers, unlike deer antlers, never fall off.