Top 10 most interesting facts about giraffes you didn't know

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. They are between 4.8 and 6 meters tall. 

They have cute, soft expressions on their faces and their fur is very eye-catching because there are spots of different shapes everywhere. There is no doubt that the giraffe is a very unique creature. However, not everything can be attributed to their height and size, because they have many other characteristics that make them amazing animals. This time, l will bring you: 10 interesting facts about giraffes that you didn't know.

1. Giraffes rarely sleep　

　

They are so big that we think they need a lot of sleep to get a good rest, but this is not the case. They only need very little rest time. It takes 2 to 3 hours a day, and 5 to 7 minutes of sleep each time is enough. In the wild, they can even stand up to sleep so that they can escape in dangerous situations. If they lie on the ground, their long necks will form an arch.

2. Giraffe's tongue is very long

The giraffe’s tongue is as long as its neck. This length can even reach 50 cm, which allows them to avoid thorns when they eat the leaves of their favorite food, Acacia. In addition, the tongue can also be used as a cleaning tool, used to clean the ears, drill into the nose or pull out thorns that have penetrated the skin.

3. Age spots

The spots on the skin of giraffes can indicate their age, especially among men. The deeper the mark, the older you are. The color of the fur also indicates the male's sexual maturity.

　　

4. The spot pattern is as unique as a fingerprint

No two giraffes have the same spot pattern. Just like human fingerprints, these are very unique. This detail can be used to disguise yourself, adjust the temperature and identify each other. The shape of these spots seems to be passed from mother to son, although the reason is not clear.

5. Giraffes can tolerate thirst

They can tolerate not drinking water for a few days, because when they drink, they can drink up to 45 liters at a time. In this way, they can spend up to three weeks in arid areas without tasting a drop of water.

6. The giraffe is fast

The large size of giraffes does not prevent them from moving quickly. Their speed is up to 50 km/h. But this is only in short distances, because they will fatigue quickly. When driving long distances, they can maintain a speed of 10 km/h.

7. Gender indicator cornerThe "horns" on the giraffe's head are called skin bone horns. They are made of ossified cartilage and are covered by hair. Its appearance allows us to distinguish their gender. For example, females have a tuft of hair on the top of their bones, while males are bald in this area.

8. Giraffes can't yawn

　

Due to the special shape of the fur-covered mouth, the giraffe is the only mammal that does not yawn. Its upper lip is not split like that of a camel and is longer.

9. Well prepared jugular vein

With such a high neck of three meters long, it is naturally a dilemma for the giraffe to bend over to drink, because all the blood will flow to the head, and the consequences will be disastrous. However, this is not the case, because they have a special valve system in the neck, which has great resistance and can prevent the blood from dripping suddenly.

10. The number of neck vertebrae is the same as that of humans

The neck of a giraffe is 3 meters long, and it is easy to think that they have many vertebrae. but it is not the truth. They actually have 7 vertebrae just like us, but each vertebra can be as long as 28 cm.