The Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an even-toed ungulate
mammal, the tallest of all land living animal species.
Males can be 4.8 to 5.5 metres tall and weigh up to 900
kilograms. Females are generally slightly shorter and
weigh less. Native to Africa, the "Giraffe"
is related to deer and cattle, but placed in a separate
family, the Giraffidae, consisting only of the Giraffe
and its closest relative, the Okapi. There are nine generally
accepted subspecies of giraffes, differentiated by color
and pattern variations and range. Giraffes use their long,
prehensile tongues to extend their reach. Specimen at
the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC.Giraffes
are famous for their long necks which allow them to browse
on the leaves of trees, and elongated forelegs (which
are much longer than the hind legs). The bony structure
of the neck is essentially unchanged from that of other
mammals: there are no extra vertebrae, but each of the
7 bones is greatly enlarged.
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