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.
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 for IUCN status, population context and sources — or donate to WARN to help fund the partner teams protecting wildlife on the ground.
