# 12 Amazing Facts About Giraffes (Seven Neck Bones, Same as You)

*Sub-Saharan Africa · JUL 25 2026*

> Giraffes have seven neck vertebrae — the same number as humans — each hugely elongated, along with blood pressure roughly twice ours and a valve system that stops them blacking out when they raise their heads.

A tongue that resists thorns, blood pressure twice ours, and half an hour of sleep a day. Twelve verified giraffe facts.

## What are the key takeaways from this briefing?
- Giraffes have seven neck vertebrae, the same number as humans, each hugely elongated.
- Blood pressure is roughly double ours, with neck valves preventing blackouts on head-raising.
- The 45 cm prehensile tongue and antiseptic saliva let them feed among acacia thorns.
- They sleep about 30 minutes a day, usually in short standing bouts.
- Coat patterns are unique to the individual and partly inherited from the mother.

## Twelve giraffe facts, fact-checked

The giraffe is the tallest land animal alive and a solid piece of engineering around one problem: getting blood to a head five metres up. Full profile in our [giraffe guide](/wildlife-guides/giraffe/).

### 1. Seven neck bones, same as a human

Almost all mammals have seven cervical vertebrae. A giraffe's are simply enormous — some over 25 cm each.

### 2. Blood pressure roughly twice ours

Needed to push blood up to the brain, supported by an unusually large, thick-walled heart.

### 3. Valves stop them blacking out

Neck valves and elastic vessels manage the pressure surge when a giraffe lifts its head after drinking.

### 4. Tight leg skin acts as a G-suit

Very tight skin and dense connective tissue in the legs prevent blood pooling — a design NASA has studied.

### 5. Their tongue is around 45 cm

Dark, prehensile and tough, it strips leaves from between acacia thorns. The dark pigment may protect against sunburn.

### 6. Thick saliva coats the thorns

Antiseptic, viscous saliva helps them swallow thorns without injury.

### 7. They sleep around 30 minutes a day

Usually in short bouts, often standing. Lying down leaves them vulnerable and slow to rise.

### 8. Calves fall about 2 m at birth

Born while the mother stands, the drop helps break the amniotic sac. Calves stand within an hour.

### 9. Coat patterns are individual and inherited

No two giraffes share a pattern, and patch characteristics pass from mother to calf.

### 10. They hum at night

Long thought nearly silent, giraffes were recorded producing low humming after dark; its function is still unresolved.

### 11. Males fight by necking

Swinging the neck to land blows with the ossicone-topped skull. Contests are serious and occasionally fatal.

### 12. They have suffered a silent decline

Giraffe numbers fell substantially over recent decades with far less attention than elephants or rhinos — often called the silent extinction.

**[Read the full giraffe wildlife guide](/wildlife-guides/giraffe/)** for IUCN status, population context and sources — or **[donate to WARN](/donate/)** to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.

## What do people ask about this briefing?
### How many bones are in a giraffe's neck?
Seven — the same number as a human and almost every other mammal. The difference is size: individual giraffe cervical vertebrae can exceed 25 centimetres.

### How long is a giraffe's tongue?
Around 45 centimetres. It is prehensile, tough and dark-pigmented, which may protect it from sunburn during long periods of browsing, and it strips leaves from between acacia thorns.

### How much do giraffes sleep?
Roughly 30 minutes in a 24-hour period, usually taken in very short bouts and often while standing. Lying down leaves a giraffe vulnerable and slow to get up.

### Why don't giraffes faint when they lift their heads?
A system of valves in the neck veins, highly elastic blood vessels and a large thick-walled heart manage the pressure change. Very tight leg skin also prevents blood pooling, functioning much like a pilot's G-suit.

### Are giraffes endangered?
Giraffe numbers have fallen substantially over recent decades — a decline often called the silent extinction because it attracted far less attention than elephant or rhino poaching. Status varies between subspecies, with some assessed as Critically Endangered.

## Which sources does this briefing use?
- [IUCN Red List — Giraffa camelopardalis](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/9194/136266699)
- [Smithsonian's National Zoo — Giraffe](https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals)

Human-readable page: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/giraffe-12-amazing-facts/