Class: MAMMALIA

Order: ARTIODACTYLA

Family: GIRAFFIDAE

Genus: GIRAFFA

A graphing g'raffe? This Rothschild's Giraffe, according to this measure, is about 4 and a half metres tall. The tallest giraffe on record was a bull at almost 6 metres in height.

The tallest living mammal, and animal, on Earth. Long classified as a species, G. Cameleopardalis, with nine or so subspecies, it appears that there have risen a number of different classification systems, to classify giraffes, with as many as eight or so possible species. All giraffes are found in areas of Central and South Africa, with a similar body plan, but differences in patterning and and build.

By looking at the closest living relative of the giraffe, the okapi, we can get an idea of how the giraffe's ancestors may have looked. Samotherium is seemingly a powerful example of such a transitional form, in that it is found that its neck was at an 'intermediate' length between okapis and modern giraffes. Remains of other giraffoids, in some cases short and stubby like okapis, and in other cases more like giraffes, show how the giraffe evolved to stretch upwards.

The elusive okapi is built more like a fattish horse than a giraffe. Perhaps the giraffe's ancestors looked similar.

Although the most popular theory by far is that the neck evolved to reach tall trees, and this would certainly be a good cause, as it would fend off competition, it's possible that this is not all the worth of the neck. Others believe that the giraffe's neck is just as good for sexual selection as it is for eating from trees, and perhaps females are attracted to longer necks. A long neck also makes for good child-care, as it enables the animal to watch their child from an enhanced view. The giraffe's neck is also versatile to a number of different plant material, in that whilst the main food of the giraffe is leaves of the tree, it also eats, at times, plants lower to the ground.

All giraffe patterns work as fine camouflage, and being herd animals, it helps to know who is who in the herd.

Of course, the most striking feature of the giraffe's anatomy is the long neck of the giraffe. Like all other mammals, the giraffe's neck bones are seven in number. The legs of the giraffe too are relatively long, the legs alone standing taller than most humans. All giraffes sport a form of patterning on their hide, with different populations having somewhat different shapes. The Giraffe's tongue is dark blue, to prevent sunburn of the tongue, and the tongue and lips are thick, as so to eat the thorns of the leaves without much trouble. On the top of the head are two cartiligous ossicones, used in combat.

The giraffe is typically placid, but is known to be aggressive towards predators. On the savannah, the lion may sometimes attempt, occasionally successfully, to take on a giraffe, but mostly the calves are at risk. The leg of the giraffe is powerful, and a single kick can kill many predators. Like elephants, the giraffe has shown emotional capability, in that giraffe cows can start affections that may last for years, as well as grieving if a calf falls to a lion. For years, it appears that the sociology of the giraffe was rather underlooked, but a number of giraffe researchers are now trying to change this. The male bulls, in competition for a female, will have a vertical posture, with musculature visible, hardened ossicones, and the forehead too thickens. In the absence of a larger bull, the male giraffe will act as the leading male in the area, but in the presence of a larger bull, the giraffe will avoid competition. To avoid tripping over, the giraffe walks in a different method to most other quadrupedal mammals, in that the left legs move in conjunction with the right legs. Giraffe bulls practice 'necking', where the necks of two bulls collide with each other, and the winner is the one with his 'head held high' at the end. After successful mating, the giraffe's gestation of 15 months will result in a small giraffe calf, but still relatively tall. These calves will perhaps be born at a 'calving ground', typically the same place used numerous times, as a sort of 'tradition' amongst generations. The bull plays no part in raising offspring. Calved mothers tend to socialise, whilst a single cow will watch a number of calves in a 'nursery'. The calves are usually playful with each other, and the adult cow watches the calves to keep them safe. It is commonly thought that the giraffe is a silent creature. Indeed, the giraffe produces just scant grunts and snorts mostly, but is capable of roaring, or mooing like a cow. The young too will roar, mew and bleat. However, most communication amongst adults is too low for humans to hear.