Giraffe

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is the tallest living terrestrial animal species. On average, it is about 4.3 metres to 5.2 metres tall. Giraffes belong to the family giraffidae. It is believed that the giraffids evolved from a 3 metres tall antelope-like mammal that roamed Europe and Asia some 30–50 million years ago.Fully grown male giraffes weigh between 800 and 1,930 kilograms and fully grown female giraffes weigh between 550 and 1,180 kilograms. As the forelegs of giraffes are about 10% longer than their hind legs, giraffes can reach a sprint speed of up to 60 km/h. A giraffe's heart measures about 60 cm long and weighs upto 10 kg. It generates about double the amount of normal blood pressure generated by an average land mammal. A giraffe can eat about 29 kg of leaves and twigs daily. On average, it sleeps for about 1.9 hours per day. The neck of a giraffe is over 2 metres long. It accounts for nearly half of the animal's vertical height.

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