Giraffe Males Before The Storm
by Catherine Sherman
Title
Giraffe Males Before The Storm
Artist
Catherine Sherman
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
"Giraffe Males Before The Storm" by Catherine Sherman.
These two male giraffes are traveling together in search of acacia leaves to eat in a game reserve in South Africa. Storm clouds are gathering.
The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Its species name refers to its camel-like appearance and the patches of color on its fur. Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones and its distinctive coat patterns. It stands 5 to 6 m (16 to 20 feet) tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) for males and 830 kg (1,830 lb) for females. It is classified under the family Giraffidae, along with its closest extant relative, the okapi. The nine subspecies are distinguished by their coat patterns.
The giraffe's scattered range extends from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffes usually live in savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands. Their primary food source is acacia leaves, which they browse at heights most other herbivores can't reach.
Featured in "Our 4-Legged Friends" group (10/22/2013); "Nature Photography" group (11/08/2013)
Uploaded
October 20th, 2013
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Viewed 1,051 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/26/2024 at 2:28 AM
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