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Fact: There are nine
recognized subspecies of giraffe. They are: the Nigerian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis
peralta), the Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis),
Baringo (Rothschild's) giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), Masai
giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi), Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa
camelopardalis reticulata), Thornicroft's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis
thornicrofti), Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), Angolan
giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis), and the Southern giraffe (Giraffa
camelopardalis giraffa). They live in scattered geographic regions in Africa,
and have differing color patterns.
Quote: "The giraffe, although from sixteen
to twenty feet in height, is perfectly defenceless, and can only trust to the swiftness
of its pace and the extraordinary power of vision, for its means of protection. [note:
the giraffe also kicks] The eye of this animal is the most beautiful exaggeration of that of the
gazelle, while the color of the reddish-orange hide, mottled with darker spots, changes
the tints of the skin with the differing rays of light, according to the muscular
movement of the body. No one who has merely seen the giraffe in a cold climate can
form the least idea of its beauty in its native land."
Fact: Ever see a fainting giraffe? If a giraffe's
neck didn't contain pumping ventricles in its neck as well as its heart, then the
animal would black out every time it raised its head to eat. A giraffe's heart is
very big and very busy, pumping up to 20 gallons (75 liters) of blood every minute,
and weighing up to 25 pounds (11 kilograms).
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