More about Giraffes
Giraffes are the tallest land animals. Their height may very from 4-6 m. They are hoofed animals that live in the grasslands and savannas of Africa. They roam in small groups of about half a dozen. Their are nine subspecies of giraffes.
Diet
Giraffes are cud-chewing herbivorous animals. They feed on leaves, flowers and fruits. One of their main foods is the leaves of Acacia trees. Their long necks help them browse through the leaves of these trees. Giraffes are also known to eat soil to fulfill their mineral and soil requirements.
Skin
Giraffes have very beautiful spotted skin. No two giraffes have indentical patterns on their skin. Different subspecies have different patterns on their skin. Some have small patches, while others may have large or medium-sized patches. The pattern of the coat remains the same throught a giraffe's life. However, the colour may change depending on their health.
Tongue
Giraffes have a long , muscular, prehensile tongue that helps them pluck and eat leaves. A giraffe can extend its tongue up to 21 inches. The tongue may be blue or black in colour. Giraffes spend most of their time eating and travel long distances to forage for food.
Height: a disadvantage
Giraffes are tall that they find it difficult to drink water from water holes. They have to spread their legs and bend their bodies at and awkward angle to reach water holes, which makes them vulnerable to attack from predators such as Africa's big cats. However, they need to drink only once in several days.
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