Species of Giraffes

     There are six main giraffe species. There are several subspecies also. The type of giraffe is determined by their coat patterns. The six main species are the Rothschild, the Nigerian, the Reticulated, the Maasai, the Southern, and the Kordofan.
     The Rothschild giraffe is an endangered species. Their coat of dark patches and white undercoat is what makes them easy to identify. The Nigerian giraffe is also known as the West African Giraffe. Their spots are lighter than others. The Reticulated giraffe can grow up to 19 feet tall. This species has a very long black tongue and can live up to 25 years. The Maasai giraffe has jagged cream colored spots all over their body. Some males have darker spots than others. The Southern giraffe is found in Africa and can weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Some males have very dark patches and females have brown or chestnut patches. Lastly, the Kordofan giraffe is mostly found in Sudan. This species has a variety of coat patterns.

 Maasai Giraffe

Nigerian Giraffe 

Kordofan Giraffe 

Reticulated Giraffe 

 Rothschild Giraffe

 Southern Giraffe

Giraffe Facts

Interesting facts about giraffes:

1. Giraffes only sleep for minutes at a time. In total, they usually only sleep for 30 minutes each day. 
2. The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world. 
3. Giraffes don't eat meat, but they can consume up to 77 pounds of acacia leaves a day! 
4. The giraffe can drink 12 gallons of water at a time. 
5. The giraffe is able to clean its ears with its own tongue. 
6. A giraffe can go without water longer than a camel. Predators wait for giraffes by water sources knowing they will come eventually. To avoid their predators, they drink as little as possible. 
7. Giraffes defend themselves with their hooves and necks. A giraffe's kick is able to sever a lion's head. 
8. Giraffes can run at 35 MPH from their enemies. 
9. A giraffe's tongue is blue/purple colored. 
10. It's common for two male giraffes to fight over a female by "necking". Necking is when the two males stand side by side and swing their necks at each other. Sometimes this results in one male being hit to the ground. I've included a video of this above! 

Rothschild Giraffe

    Recently, there was a Rothschild giraffe born in Connecticut. This type of giraffe is an endangered species. There are only 670 left in the world, including this newborn. The Rothschild giraffe is typically found in Kenya and Uganda. This species can reach 18 feet in height. Visits to this newborn in Connecticut are limited to large donors or education groups. It can cost $500 at least, or $2,500 at most to visit this endangered giraffe.

My Interest

     As I've said, I became interested in giraffes at a young age. One reason I'm interested in them is because they are not native to this area. You'd have to travel far to see a real giraffe in their natural habitat. You could also visit a zoo, but still they are in captivity there. I'd love to be able to go on a safari and see a giraffe where it really lives.
     Another reason I'm interested in giraffes is because they don't look like an ordinary animal. There aren't many animals with a neck six feet long. They are also adorable!

Introduction

Hi, I’m a high school student from Southern Maine.  When I was 5, my parents took me to visit the zoo. At the zoo I got to see several species I never thought I’d see. At that time, I was interested in elephants. I knew you were able to ride the elephants, and I was so excited. When we got there, I saw how large an actual elephant is and was terrified. Ever since then, I have been interested in giraffes.

Although I am interested in this animal, I don’t know too much about them. I’ll be researching giraffes and posting my new found information. I've always admired this animal, and now I will share my knowledge with you! Enjoy!