Giraffe

Giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis = Camelopardalis giraffa), an African ruminant from the south of the Sahara, sometimes classed with the deer, but more generally placed in a family by itself. Sir Richard Owen considered that its position was between the hollow-horned and the solid-horned ruminants, though partaking more of the nature of the latter group. The adult male is the tallest of living animals, standing from 16 to 18 feet high. This great height is principally due to the very long neck, which, however, has but the usual number of vertebras (7), though these are excessively elongated. The back slopes considerably from the shoulder to the rump, and gives one the impression that the fore limbs are much longer than the hinder ones. The elevation at the shoulder is really due to the prolongation of the neural processes of the dorsal vertebrae which serve as points of attachment for the muscles of the neck. This will be readily seen on examining a skeleton or a picture of one. The dentition is like that of oxen, and the tongue is prehensile and capable of extension, so that these animals can easily procure the leaves which form their food. Each limb has but two digits, and there are no false toes. The giraffe has two small, solid, persistent horns, covered with skin and hair, and a bony protuberance in the middle line of the face, appearing in old animals as a third horn. The colour is a lightish fawn, with darker spots and blotches, the under surface is white. The species is vanishing, and there is even now great difficulty in procuring specimens.