Hobbies And Interests
Giraffe Tongues
Giraffe tongues are an average of 18 inches to 20 inches--or about a foot-and-a-half--long. Unlike human tongues, which are normally a shade of pink or red, giraffe tongues are deep blue-black in color. According to experts with the San Diego Zoo, some think the color is to keep the tongue from getting sunburned. In addition to using their tongues to grab and eat food, giraffes also often use them to clean insects out of their noses.
Necks
A giraffe's neck can grow to about six feet in length, the height of some humans. But,regardless of height, both giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrae: seven. In giraffes, each vertebrae can grow to about ten inches in size. Giraffe males use their necks in much the same way that rams use their horns: they have "necking" competitions for dominance.
Food
Giraffes use their long necks to reach the upper leaves of trees, which they then strip from the branches using their mouth and tongue. Giraffes have to spend an incredible amount of time eating each day to amass the 140 pounds of daily vegetation they require. Like cows, giraffes are ruminants, meaning they re-chew their food after vomiting to aid with digestion.
Useful Spots
Giraffe spots are thought to be used as camouflage. When a giraffe is lying on the ground, it can easily be mistaken for a dead tree . Scientists also use the spot patterns to tell giraffes apart. While there is only one species of giraffe, there are nine subspecies. Each subspecies is specific to its location, and has a distinct spot shape. Different coat colors are caused, in part, by variations in diet.