The tallest land animal on Earth is the giraffe. Giraffes are ruminant artiodactyls native to Africa, and their Latin name means "camel with leopard spots." They are the tallest living land animals in the world. Standing upright, they can reach 6-8 meters in height from head to toe, weighing approximately 700 kilograms. Newborn calves are already 1.5 meters tall. Their fur has spotted and reticulated patterns. They have a broad forehead, a pointed snout, large, erect ears, and a pair of short, bony horns covered with skin and hair. Their necks are exceptionally long (about 2 meters), with a mane running down the back. Their bodies are relatively short; their limbs are tall and strong, with the forelimbs slightly longer than the hind limbs, and their hooves are broad. Their tails are short, with a black tuft of hair at the tip. Their teeth are primitive, low-crowned teeth, meaning they cannot primarily eat grass and must feed mainly on leaves. They have a relatively long tongue, which they use for feeding. They possess short horns covered with hairy skin.
Because of their exceptionally long legs, giraffes find drinking water very inconvenient. They have to spread their front legs or kneel on the ground to drink, and they are also very vulnerable to attacks from other animals while drinking. Therefore, giraffes that live in groups usually do not drink water together.
Giraffes' height necessitates higher blood pressure than most animals, as this is essential for their hearts to pump blood to their brains, which are located "far away." A giraffe's blood pressure is approximately three times that of an adult human. Because of their tall necks, valves behind their ears regulate blood pressure when they lower their heads, preventing it from becoming too high.
Giraffes have tongues that can reach 40 centimeters in length and are bluish-black. Their lips are thin and flexible, allowing them to deftly avoid the dense thorns on the outer edges of plants and to snatch the leaves hidden inside. The sticky saliva on their tongues and the tough keratinous coating on their tongues and lips prevent them from being pricked by acacia thorns.
Giraffes have a pair of large brown eyes with protruding pupils that can rotate in all directions, giving them a wide field of vision. Combined with their tall stature, they are like living "lookout towers," able to see what is happening in the distance.
Giraffes sleep very little, typically only two hours a night, and this sleep can sometimes put them in danger. Giraffes mostly sleep standing up, usually in a dozing state. Due to their long necks, giraffes often rest their heads on tree branches to avoid neck fatigue. When giraffes enter their sleep phase, like elephants, they need to lie down to rest, a phase that lasts about 20 minutes. However, it takes a full minute for a giraffe to stand up, significantly reducing their escape ability while sleeping. Therefore, lying down to sleep is very dangerous for giraffes; they sleep standing up more often. When a giraffe lies down to sleep, its two front legs and one hind leg are bent under its belly, while the other hind leg is extended to the side. Its long neck arches backward, bringing its horned head to the extended hind leg, with its chin resting against its calf. Giraffes are very timid; this scientifically designed sleeping posture both minimizes their visibility and allows them to leap up and escape in an emergency.
Giraffes are gentle in temperament, and their herds are characterized by humility, elegance, and politeness. They move about affectionately, close together, looking out for one another. Their long legs often touch, a situation that can last for a long time, yet they never quarrel or argue over such trivial matters. This closeness stems from both affection and a sense of security, a warmth that silently permeates every giraffe in the group. They often intertwine their necks, communicating gently and attentively, like a cluster of tall banana trees, sharing the same roots and supporting each other. Their actions are so easygoing, friendly, and natural, perfectly befitting their beautiful appearance.
