Giraffe
Kingdom| Phylum| Class| Order| Family| Genius - Species| Works Cited
Kingdom:
Animalia Return to
Top
heterotroph
multicellular
ingest and digest food in an internal cavity
no cell wall
bodies are made up of cells organized into tissues
do not reproduce eggs
Phylum: Chordata Return to Top
has the same organs on both sides (bilateral symmetry)
has a segmented body
has segmented muscles
three germ layers and a well - developed coelom
big brain with a
cord
tail
pouches
heart and vessels
digestive system
endoskeleton
vertebrate
Class: Mammalia Return
to Top 
three middle ear bones
hair
mammary glands
feeds newborns with milk
teeth
lower jaw
full skeleton
Order: Artiodactula Return to Top
odd toes / even toes
cannon bone
horns / antlers
frontals
diastema
cheek teeth
stomach
Family: Giraffidae
Return to Top
giraffe / okapi
weight - 250 kg to over 1500 kg
long narrow heads
thin lips
long tongues
consist of only four
bones - giraffes
consist of only three bones - okapi
short horns
complex stomach
Genius and Species: Girraffa and Giraffa Camelopardalis Return to Top
The word "giraffe" comes from the Arabic word, "zirafah," meaning "the tallest of all." This is the perfect explanation of the giraffe. It is the tallest animal in the world with many different things to learn about, like its characteristics and habitat.
Giraffes
have many unusual characteristics that help it survive in its environment. For
example, one characteristic is that their head to toe body
length ranges from about twelve
feet to eighteen feet. This shows that they have to be very tall to reach food from
tall trees. Another characteristic, is that their light fur ranges in color from
light tan to deep chocolate brown letting them be able to hide behind trees and be
camouflaged from hunters. This characteristic helps them because they need
their light fur to survive in the hot climates. Another example of a characteristic, is
that male giraffes have two thick horns on top of their head. This characteristic
shows that males are able compete with their horns. In conclusion, giraffes need all of
these characteristics to survive in its habitat.
Many things
in the giraffes habitat are essential to its life. For example, giraffes like to
live in open woodland and wooded grassland areas. This shows 
that they are able to
roam around in their environment. Another example of the giraffe's habitat is, that
they live by grass and trees. This shows that they can eat their food while straying in
the grass. One more example of its habitat, is that they always live by water. This
shows that since they live in very hot climates, they can drink all of the water that they
need.
Giraffes are wonderful creatures to learn about. It is nice to know about their characteristics and habitat. "Animals are such agreeable friends, they ask no questions and pass no criticism."-George Eliot. Giraffes are agreeable friends, they also are easy and fun to learn about!
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Look at it walking Its fur has patterns twirling With golden brown swirls |
Fun Facts
Giraffes are the tallest animal in the world.
Giraffes have swirls in their skin to help them blend in with their environment.
Giraffes are endangered in the wild.
Giraffes live 20 to 30 years.
Giraffes can go up to two weeks without water.
Information
Muzzy, Catherine. Personal interview. 16 Apr. 2003.
Animal Diversity Web. May 2000. University of Michigan. 16 Apr. 2003 <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/giraffa/g._camelopardalis$narrative.html>.
Pictures
Photo Gallery. 9 Apr. 2003 <http://http://search.gallery.yahoo.com/search/corbis_id?p=cid%3A11397609>.
Jameson, Christopher. Animal Diversity Web. 1997. University of Michigan. 16 Apr. 2003 <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/giraffa/g._camelopardalis$media.html>.
