Giraffe

Description

The eyes on the sides of its head provide the giraffe with excellent sight and allow it to detect predators. Its neck can measure up to 3 m. They have horn-like protuberances on its head called ossicones, which are narrow in females with tufts of hair, whilst males are bald. Their skin is dark grey and is covered by a coat with a pattern of dark brown spots on an orangey background that serves as camouflage and gets darker with age. 

Ethology

They live in open herds, although they do not establish strong social bonds because the groups are changing constantly. They move together in search of water and food, led by a male who is the breeder. The males use their necks to hit each other when fights break out. After a 400-460 day gestation, a calf is born measuring up to 2 metres which will be brought up by the whole group of females. 

Interesting facts

Poaching and habitat degradation are the threats facing the tallest of all terrestrial animals. The pattern of spots on their coats helps them to regulate their body temperature, and has served as inspiration for the designs that engineers used to create space suits for astronauts.