Giraffes have long necks and tall bodies, which allows them to look over bushes, small trees, and other tall plants as they browse through the savanna in search of food or water. While many people are familiar with the physical features of giraffes, including the fact that they are considered to be the tallest land animals on earth, some people may not know some of the other facts about these creatures. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about giraffes.

1) Their tongue is almost as long as their body

Giraffes are one of the tallest animals on earth, towering up to 18 feet high. Their tongue is so long that it can be used as a form of defense. If a giraffe feels threatened by a predator, the animal will lash out with its tongue and slap the threat in the face. Their tongues are covered in small bumps called papillae which help them eat.

2) They use their tongues to clean their ears

Giraffes have long tongues that they use to clean their ears. In fact, their tongues are so long that the inside of their ear can be reached from the outside. This is because the giraffe’s neck is actually very short in comparison to its head.

3) They sleep standing up, like horses

Giraffes are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. They sleep standing up, like horses. They can go a few days without water, because they get most of their moisture from leaves and plants. The average giraffe weighs more than 2000 pounds and is about six feet tall at the shoulder. They are native to Africa and can live for up to 25 years in the wild.

4) A male giraffe can be as tall as 19 feet

A male giraffe can be as tall as 19 feet and weigh up to 3,000 pounds. They eat up to 75 pounds of food in a day and drink around 40 gallons of water. Their tongues are 18 inches long, which they use like a broom to clean their bodies.

5) The larynx of a baby giraffe is the largest of any land animal.

The larynx of a baby giraffe is the largest of any land animal and can weigh up to 9 pounds! It’s one of many fascinating facts about these gentle giants.

• The neck of a giraffe can support 10 times the weight of its head.
• A male giraffe’s neck is 2-3 feet longer than a female’s neck.

6) A Giraffe’s Heart Beats Twice As Fast As A Human’s

Giraffes are the tallest mammals in the world, but they’re not the largest. Male giraffes can grow up to 20 feet tall and weigh 3,000 pounds. Female giraffes are about two-thirds of that size. Their average heart rate is around 45 beats per minute, but when stressed or agitated their heart rate can jump to 150 beats per minute.

7) Giraffes See For Miles In All Directions

If you live in the African Savannah, there’s a high chance that at any given time of day, you’ll see a giraffe. They are often spotted in groups of two or three, munching on acacia leaves. But how much do we really know about these amazing creatures?

8) Female giraffes give birth while standing up

Female giraffes give birth while standing up, which is why they are called kangaroo-camels.
Giraffes are one of the tallest animals on Earth. They can grow to be more than 20 feet tall and weigh about 3,000 pounds.
A giraffe’s neck is very long and strong. It can support an animal that weighs up to 1,600 pounds without any problems at all.

9) Giraffes were once thought to be four species instead of one.

Giraffes were once thought to be four species instead of one. In the late 1800s, researchers discovered that what they called Cape giraffe was actually two separate species: the Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) and the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi). The Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) was also recognized as a distinct species.

10) Scientists aren’t sure why but they think it might have something to do with all that necking!

When giraffes do it, they are called necking. It looks like the two giraffes are kissing but actually one is licking the other’s neck. Scientists aren’t sure why but they think it might have something to do with all that necking!