The tongue and inside of the mouth are coated with tough tissue as protection. Depending on the light, a giraffe tongue colour can look anything from black to grey to purple. All you need to know about the giraffe’s fascinating tongue. 50 km/hour; Spot pattern: no giraffe has the same pattern as another ; Habitat: savannah, grassland and open woodlands mainly of Uganda; The giraffe is the tallest mammal and is perfectly adapted to living off trees. Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Giraffes don’t need much sleep to function, typically getting less than two hours each day! 0:44. your own Pins on Pinterest Their tongues are black in color to prevent them from getting sunburnt. But their tongues have yet another trick up their sleeve, for added protection. As a result, there’s no need for the giraffe to get the factor 50 suncream out when licking around treetops for food all day long. Discover (and save!) The giraffe (Giraffa) is an African artiodactyl mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant.It is traditionally considered to be one species, Giraffa camelopardalis, with nine subspecies.However, the existence of up to eight extant giraffe species has been described, based upon research into the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, as well as morphological measurements … A moving group of giraffes is called a journey. Naturally, you’ll be wondering why on Earth these creatures have such strangely coloured tongues. If giraffes do get a thorn inside their mouth, then their tongue has evolved to give them an additional level of protection. letuscrack. Giraffes, the tallest land mammals on the planet. Body height: 4.50 m – 5.80 m; Weight: 500 – 800 kg; Life span: up to 28 years of age; Running speed: up to max. Licking sharp thorns all day doesn’t sound like an enjoyable activity. Likewise, the hide is so thick that it was formerly used to cover shields. Its species name refers to its … Clever! If their tongues were any different, giraffes would be hungry, sore, and sunburnt, with ears full of wax. Giraffes have not only a neck and tongue, but also an impressive tail - up to 2.5 meters. From their astonishing height and long necks to their spotted coats and wonderfully strange tongues. The Acacia tree has very nasty thorns and it is the long tongue of the Giraffe that can reach the top of the tree with its tastiest leaves. If the tongue gets cut, this special saliva has antiseptic properties to help it heal quickly without getting infected. The calf drops to the ground, which severs the umbilical cord. So they’re even useful for making baby giraffes. That’s about 1400 kilograms. See more ideas about Iphone background wallpaper, Aesthetic iphone wallpaper, Cute wallpapers. Just how tall is a giraffe and how do they drink? Claps! An Ornate Hide: The Giraffe’s Blotches. The Amazing Reason Why Giraffes Have Black Tongues. Clever! Giraffes cover them in thick, antiseptic saliva. Most people know giraffes for their extended legs and famously long necks. Here’s a full guide to the facts. However, despite their body mass, water is not a necessity as they can absorb sufficient moisture from their food plants. Grizzly bears. Giraffe tongues have melanin, the same pigment that turns your skin dark when you get suntanned, or makes it dark from birth if your ancestry is in Africa. The melanin provides the tongue with much-needed extra UV protection. Evolution gives us another one of our giraffe facts: giraffes have extremely long tongues. The thorns don’t tend to be an issue for them, because their tongues have thickened papillae (the small bumps found on most tongues). Giraffes need to eat around about 30kg of acacia leaves each day. The Masai Giraffe is the most … The color of the tongue is best described as black, blue, or purple with a pink base/back. Let us know in the comments section below! A giraffe does it with its tongue. Giraffe Tongue. The lifespan of a male is 14–16 years. Like human fingerprints, each giraffe’s spot pattern is completely unique, and no two are the same. You won’t hear a peep out of them. Specifically, they use them to detect whether or not a female is in heat. Name: The giraffe’s scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis, comes from the ancient Greeks’ … Posted by Editorial Team | Interests, Safari, Travel, Wildlife | 2. Giraffes needs to drink once every few days. Here’s a full guide to the facts. A giraffe’s tongue can be 18-20 inches long and is a dark color. Giraffes use their tongues to reach in and out of branches to pluck the most succulent buds from trees. So they can happily chomp away to their heart’s content all through the day. Giraffes spend most of their lives standing up, even giving birth standing up. The extraordinary length of their tongue helps them both get extra reach for those super-high acacia leaves, and dexterously wrap their tongues around branches to strip leaves whilst avoiding the thorns. What’s more, the saliva is thick and sticky. Because of their build, giraffes are at their most vulnerable to predators when drinking, as they have to spread their legs wide and lower their heads all the way to the ground. Report. What do you think – any facts about nature’s weirdest tongues surprise you? The left image below shows the patches of a giraffe and … Questions about the colour of giraffe tongues are adrift all over the web. Giraffes enjoy eating raw onions. Please log in again. However, the long tongue of the giraffe helps him to allows it to reach the highest, tastiest leaves while avoiding the sharp thorns. Like this post. Females live 20-25 years. A Giraffe's Tongue. Also Read : 10 Most Interesting Facts About Owls. This is due to the density of dark ‘melanin’ colour pigments in them. Measuring in at a whopping 45 to 50 centimeters (Tongue). Giraffes prefer to eat new shoots and leaves, mainly from the thorny acacia tree. The tongue has a thick tough layer that protects it from being cut by thorns. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to be licked by a giraffe, you’ll notice that their 50cm-long tongues can appear purple, bluish or almost black in colour. Here’s some more interesting info on natures’ tallest animals: When out on safari, keep a lookout for giraffes arranged in groups of calves watched over by one or two mothers. Learn how your comment data is processed. However, the different groups may sometimes come together and gather in larger herds. While these long-necked herbivores remain a firm favourite of the safari, there remains much about the giraffe which is relatively unknown. Giraffes cover them in thick, antiseptic saliva Doing so means reaching to the tippy-tops of the trees to find the lushest leaves, so a long tongue comes in handy to help them stretch. The shape, size, and even colour of a giraffe’s tongue have evolved over time to perfectly adapt to their favourite food. How long is a giraffes tongue? TheScience. The tongue is highly flexible, thick and tough, allowing them to feed on leaves from the thorny acacia tree. They use their clever tongues to pull leaves from the trees, as well as grab seeds, buds, and grass. The giraffe’s tongue is typically black, blue or purple and can measure 18–20 inches long. This article delves into one of the species’ most fascinating features; their curious tongues.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'africafreak_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',145,'0','0'])); You may well have seen adorable pictures of a giraffe with its tongue out floating around the Internet. For the most part, giraffe herds consist of either related females and their offspring or groups of unrelated adult bachelors. 3. This theory makes sense, given giraffes can feed for 12 hours each day with their tongues sticking out and exposed to the sun. ... Not only do they have long necks and legs, a giraffes tongue is also oversized, often as long as 21 inches -that's about two rulers! The tallest giraffe ever recorded at 19.3 feet. 2. We're all about safari and celebrating wild Africa. Jun 29, 2013 - The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Because of the acacia’s thorns, many African animals are unable to enjoy acacia leaves as part of their regular diet, and those that do are unable to reach the highest, juiciest leaves. They are unique because of the giraffe’s diet 5. But not many people know about their exceptionally long tongues. A group of giraffes, known as a 'tower,' stare down a photographer in Tanzania's Mkomazi National Park. That half a meter of pure muscle covered in saliva and slobber. The average giraffe’s tongue measures from 18 to 20 inches long. Facts about Maasai Giraffes. Fact – What color is a giraffe’s tongue? Giraffe hierarchies are established by the males through an activity known as “necking” in which two giraffes use their long necks as a weapon during fights, swinging and hitting each other. A female giraffe can be up to 16 ft tall and weigh between 1,600 -2,600 pounds. 6. Giraffe saliva has antiseptic properties. Additionally, thick saliva is also believed to help protect giraffe’s tongue and mouth against the defensive mechanisms of their favourite food. But with their lack of Q-tips, they’re lucky to be able to keep them clean at all. Additionally, male giraffes use their tongues to help them select a suitable mating partner. Giraffes have very long legs and a tail. A male giraffe can weigh as much as a pick up truck! The giraffe Tongue! Share. Male giraffes average 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) whereas females weigh up to 828 kg (1,825 lb). Their high moisture content provides giraffes with much of their daily water requirement, meaning they can reduce the amount they have to drink from lakes, rivers, or watering holes. Its species name refers to its camel-like appearance and the patches of color on its fur. The login page will open in a new tab. Hearts: Because of their unusual shape, giraffes have the difficulty of having to get blood to their heads, very far above the ground. 7. On average, they’re between 45 cm and 50 cm in length – that’s up to 5 times longer than the longest human tongues! At a whopping 50 cm long a giraffe’s tongue follows … In order to get at the tasty leaves, the giraffe also uses its tongue, winds it round a branch and pulls off … The mouth of a giraffe is like a human hand. A giraffe’s heart is very large, at least ten kg in weight and around two feet in length. Between 1985 and 2015 the number of giraffes in the world has declined from 155,000 to 97,000. A giraffe tongue is purplish or blackish in color, which may or may not be an adaptation for sun protection. Giraffes spend most of their times standing up even they sleep standing up. Giraffes are classified by IUCN’s Red List as vulnerable of extinction. So even if they do cut or graze their tongue, it’s unlikely to become infected. Giraffes spend most of their times standing up even they sleep standing up. The giraffe grasps leaves with its prehensile lips or tongue and pulls them into the mouth. This is one of the most important organs in any living creature but it is even more important when it comes to Giraffes. 8. Giraffes’ are the most reptiles having their tongue larger. Enter your email for your weekly dose of ‘wild Africa’ directly to your inbox. 0 % More # animal-facts # animals # facts # weird-funny; More Stuff . Fun giraffe fact 3. 10. So thank goodness they’re as strange as they are. Tongue and Tails. Giant flying foxes, which are a type of bat, that live in Indonesia have wingspans of nearly six feet. 0 111. Along with their protective leathery lips and mouths, giraffes secrete a sticky, thick saliva that coats any thorns that makes it past their lips. They look incredibly silly but cute as can be. Weird mouths . In ancient times, people thought that the giraffe was the fruit of the union between a camel and a leopard (see interesting facts about leopards). This June, people around the globe are marking World Giraffe Day, an annual event to recognise the bovine dwellers of the African continent. Lifespan. They’re famed for their astonishing height, lanky necks, and brilliant patterns. A giraffe’s tongue can be up to 20 inches long! Do giraffe drink? And these questions show that people are rather muddled on the matter. For your information giraffes tongue length is about 53 cm, and the giraffe is able to run about 55 km / h time in attacking the enemy. Kilimanjaro airport: what you need to know, Hanging out with elephants in Pendjari National Park, Clothing and equipment tips for your Kilimanjaro climb, Uganda safari – Planning guide for first-time visitors. A giraffe has a prehensile tongue that is about 18 to 20 inches long and is well adapted to harvesting leaves from high trees, notably the acacia tree. The first giraffe … Female giraffes give birth to their young standing up. Giraffes are the tallest land animals on earth thanks in part to their distinctive necks which alone can reach almost 2 meters in height. Or hands. Giraffe tongues come in a variety of colours, usually landing somewhere on a spectrum between dark blue, dark purple, and black. 6. Zarafa The Giraffe. There’s still no definitive explanation for this, but the leading theory is that the melanin provides extra UV … 7-mei-2020 - People know giraffes for their long necks and spotted coats, but not many know about the wonder of giraffe tongues. The 20 best malaria-free safari destinations, The 6 greatest animal migrations in Africa. Giraffe Facts These giraffe facts are no tall story! So there you have it. 21-mrt-2020 - People know giraffes for their long necks and spotted coats, but not many know about the wonder of giraffe tongues. So, let’s get into the most interesting facts and commonly asked questions! Giraffes needs to drink once every few days. They are uniquely adapted to the giraffe’s diet, 5. Sep 10, 2020 - Explore Karlee Reece's board "Giraffe tongue" on Pinterest. Yep, sunburn, of all things. One can discover dozens of fun facts about giraffes, from their exceptional eating patterns to their competitive rituals and outlandish birthing process. The large dark patches or spots decorating a giraffe’s hide vary from individual to individual and from subspecies to subspecies. Its deep purple colour is due to dark melanin pigment. But perhaps even more curiously, the dark colour doesn’t cover the entire tongue. Fun giraffe fact 3. Giraffes are basically mute! Adult giraffe tongue length is around half a meter long, usually between 45 cm and 55 cm. The patterns on a giraffe are totally unique. Tongue: They have a really long tongue – about 20 inches or almost two feet long! 4. Their tongues are prehensile, meaning they have the ability to grasp things. They are prodigious eaters, and a large male consumes about 65 kg (145 pounds) of food per day. Adult giraffes measure around 14.1–18.7 feet in height. The new born also already has a blue/black tongue. Oct 28, 2013 - This Pin was discovered by patoune. Don’t say a word. Or hands . After researchers surveyed the population in trucks, by foot, by aircraft, and by remote cameras, they confirmed the number of giraffes has plummeted 40% since 1985. Surely not the tastiest process. A giraffe’s diet requires that they frequently munch leaves from the top of thorny trees. For example, a giraffe has such a long tongue that it can lick almost any part of its face.. A giraffe’s tongue is a wonderful piece of mother nature’s engineering, and a fascinating thing for many reasons. Giraffe Groups. And if you look closely, you’ll likely notice that their tongues are a little strange.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'africafreak_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_9',146,'0','0'])); This article breaks down the reasons why, and explores everything you need to know about them. Where the body of the first man was discovered, and a whole plethora of diverse creatures survive. Giraffes tongues are up to 20 inches long, it is also prehensile meaning it can grasp … A giraffe tongue is purplish or blackish in color, which may or may not be an adaptation for sun protection. They come in some weird colours 3. The giraffe diet of choice is leaves from the acacia tree, a tall tree that features branches interspersed with leaves and long thorns. A male giraffe can be up to 19 ft tall and weigh between 2,400 -3,000 pounds. The blind cavefish is born with eyes, but they fall off as the fish grows. Thus, giraffes can use their tongues to adeptly remove leaves and shoots from even the thorniest of plants. Kiwi bird . This is the method it uses to protect itself from attacks from predators. Well known for their long necks, these gentle giants are the world’s tallest living land animals. However, when it comes to raising the young, that is solely in the sphere of female giraffes. A factor fifty tongue! Rather, the front half tends to be dark while the back half is a more familiar tongue-colour: pink. Acacia leaves have also been shown to be an important source of water for giraffes. A giraffe’s tongue is bluish-black. Tongue: They have a really long tongue – about 20 inches or almost two feet long! Bob Strauss. Rather, they act as tools to help the animals get the food that they need. Giraffe Tongue Facts A giraffe can clean its own ears with his tongue that can reach lengths of 21 inches (more than 0.5 meters). A giraffe wraps its tongue around acacia leaves. Not only do they have long necks and legs, a giraffes tongue is also oversized, often as long as 21 inches -that's about two rulers! The tongue is also prehensile, meaning the animal can use its strong, muscular tongue to grasp and manipulate objects. Follow. The average giraffe’s tongue measures from 18 to 20 inches long. Dog Facts. Fun Giraffe Facts for Kids. So why do giraffes specialize in acacia leaves? The giraffe’s tongue is an amazing feat of nature. A factor fifty tongue! Scientists Suggest Giraffes’ Long Necks May Serve Heat-Regulating Purposes. An Ornate Hide: The Giraffe’s Blotches. … GiraffeFacts for Kids. As giraffes take just a few leaves each bite to avoid the many thorns on the branches, they can spend up to 12 hours each day feeding. The tongue and lips are tough and virtually impervious to thorns, which allows them to eat many foods that other animals can't. 0:36. But they do have a strong theory. Your email address will not be published. Also Read : 10 Most Interesting Facts About Owls. Browse more videos. FACTS ON ROTSCHILD’S GIRAFFES. We’ve discussed how the length and dexterity of giraffes’ tongues help them avoid the thorns when feeding on acacia trees. These calving pools are often colloquially referred to as giraffe creches and they allow the mothers to feed elsewhere while a trusted individual keeps a lookout for danger. It’s also a blue-ish/purply color, but that’s not important right now. The dark colour of a giraffes tongue is due to a density of melanin colour pigments, and while there’s no scientifically proven reason for this strange tongue colouring, many believe that the melanin provides extra UV protection to prevent sunburn. Evolution invents curious ways to deal with the problems faced in the natural world. A prehensile tongue – like a monkey’s prehensile tail – refers to the owner’s ability to grasp things with it, and have fine-tuned muscular control over it. The giraffe’s tongue is typically black, blue or purple and can measure 18–20 inches long. Facts About Giraffes Tongue. If you’d like to see some giraffes in the wild with your own two eyes, you can arrange a tailor-made safari in Africa. To drink, giraffe first have to splay their forelegs and/or bend their knees, and only then can they lower their necks to reach the surface of the water. Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones and its distinctive coat patterns. The tongue's blue-black colour is believed to shield the organ from sun exposure and it is widely accepted that a giraffe's sticky saliva has antiseptic properties to … B.S., Cornell University; Bob Strauss is a science … The most likely explanation for the dark colour of giraffe tongues is that it exists to protect them from sunburn. Asked by: Emma-Louise Halliday, Bedford. Giraffes tongues are up to 20 inches long, it is also prehensile meaning it can grasp things like vegetation! The tongue is highly flexible, thick and tough, allowing them to feed on leaves from the thorny acacia tree. Giraffes Kiss with Too Much Tongue . And the last thing you want while trying to eat leaves from a thorny tree is a sunburnt tongue! Geo Beats. Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. The tongue is blue-grey and up ot 20 inch (50 cm) long. A giraffe can kick with such great force that they can kill lions. Their tongues help them scoop up leaves from high branches on the tops of trees. Giraffes spend the majority of their waking life grazing, so their tongues see plenty of hot, African sun rays. Have you learned all you need about the long, colorful – and completely unique – tongues of the giraffe? The large dark patches or spots decorating a giraffe’s hide vary from individual to individual and from subspecies to subspecies. 10. The giraffe's tongue is 20 inches long. Kiwi bird is the only bird in the world which is wingless. It’s also a blue-ish/purply color, but that’s not important right now. Required fields are marked *. Here are some fun facts about giraffe’s tongues – click on a fact or scroll for more in-depth info: 1. The giraffe’s height and long tongue give them access to these leaves. It coats any swallowed thorns so that they leave the giraffe without causing damage to the digestive system. Africa is indeed a magnificent continent, and I’m sure you’ll get many opportunities to visit it. Giraffes are the world’s tallest land mammal, standing on average between 4-6 … The giraffe’s tongue can reach up to 20 inches long. 12 September 2020 111 views 0. Their tongues are high in melanin, a pigment which protects against sun exposure. Follow us for instant access to all of our best safari & wildlife content: Along with their prehensile tongues, giraffes also have. Now that’s one for giraffe facts that’ll get you tongue-tied. Giraffe’s lanky lickers aren’t just for show. For giraffes, having a prehensile tongue allows them to grasp and pull leaves into their mouths, almost like a hand, or an elephant’s trunk. Their favourite varieties being acacias and mimosas. Heady heights. Each patch acts as a thermal window to release body heat. Giraffes were once called "camel-leopards." Geo Beats. I hope to explore it someday, from the mighty Sahara in the north to Cape Town in the south. If given the chance – yes! 100 % Dislike this post. Also, the tongue is having a thick layer that protects it from a cut by the thorns. 9. Learn all about these impressively tall mammals, including key species facts, their diet and best places to see them in their natural habitat in our expert giraffe guide. Africa, the dark continent, one of my favorite places on earth. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. There are nine subspecies of giraffe. A giraffe’s tongue is blue back to protect it from sunburn in hot climates. These Zoo Live … A giraffe has a prehensile tongue that is about 18 to 20 inches long and is well adapted to harvesting leaves from high trees, notably the acacia tree. The calves fall up to 2 meters to the floor at birth as their introduction to the world. Giraffes love the Acacia Tree and most of all its leaves. It is generally assumed that the front part of the tongue has such dark coloration to protect it during frequent sun exposure while eating and prevent the tongue from getting sunburned. Much like their necks, giraffe tongues are exceptionally long — … The giraffe tongue is usually colored black, blue or purple to protect against the sun’s UV rays. Tongue and Tails. Animals Kids Love: Top 10 Giraffe Facts for Kids World’s Tallest Animal. Many scientists have grappled with this very question and concluded that, well, they’re not entirely sure. New users enjoy 60% OFF. And here are a couple of our favourite pictures of giraffe tongues in action! Characterized by its long legs, long neck, and distinctive spotted pattern, many people once believed the giraffe was a cross between a leopard and a camel. Also known as Kilimanjaro Giraffe. Giraffes can run at speeds of up to 56 kilometers per hour over short distances! Nevertheless, giraffes love snacking on their acacias and mimosas, despite the spikes. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'africafreak_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',180,'0','0']));But perhaps even more curiously, the dark colour doesn’t cover the entire tongue. If the foliage is not thorny, the giraffe “combs” leaves from the stem by pulling it across the lower canine and incisor teeth. Even the giraffe's tongue is … Giraffes sleep about 1.9 hours per day. That KISS tongue. How long is a giraffes tongue? The truth is, none of these questions are wrong in their colour assumptions. The muscular gripping tongue of a giraffe is roughly 45 centimeters long and its colour is blue/black. One part of a giraffe's body that you may not know much about, however, is the tongue. As much as they are the tallest animals in the world, they still need a long Tongue to help them reach further. January 29, 2017 Leroy Dickson African Animals, Endangered, Uncategorized. Rather, the front half tends to be dark while the back half is a more familiar tongue-colour: pink. They’re over half a meter long 2. This allows it to clean its ears with its tongue. Download 134 Giraffe Tongue Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart for FREE or amazingly low rates! Here are some fun facts about giraffes tongues – click on a fact or scroll for more in-depth info: 4. It helps the Giraffes in feeding. The colour of the tongue is best described as black, blue or purple with a pink base/back. Their tongues help them scoop up leaves from high branches on the tops of trees. Giraffe tongues come in a variety of colours, usually landing somewhere on a spectrum between dark blue, dark purple, and black. Perhaps the best-known giraffe celebrity in history is Zarafa, the first … Maybe the occasional snort. Due to the fact Giraffes tongues are out so frequently, grazing on vegetation, they have evolved a blueish/black colour, ensuring they don’t burn under the African sun! Cows in particular select high-energy low-fibre items. Giraffe Tongue. A giraffe’s tongue is blue back to protect it from sunburn in hot climates. Your email address will not be published. Playing next. It may sound like the most unlikely combination of … Fortunately, a giraffe’s tongue has thickened papillae, which helps to protect it from these vicious thorns. Giraffe Tongue Picture. Octopus Facts. Enchanttoad. An average Giraffe consumes 45 kg of leaves per day! Giant Flying Foxes. Quite simply, giraffes have virtually no competition for this food source. The winning male is dominant and has better access to the fertile females for reproduction. Tag: giraffe facts tongue. This is due to the density of dark ‘melanin’ colour pigments in them. Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world, with long necks of up to 1.8 meters, and have appropriately size tongues to match. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Note the two colours of the tongue – pink and black. 1:07. They’re prehensile 4. The patterns on a giraffe are totally unique. Thanks for your comment, Bryan. Mammals Amphibians Birds Habitat Profiles Reptiles Wildlife Conservation Insects Marine Life Forestry Dinosaurs Evolution View More . If you’ve ever been lucky enough to be licked by a giraffe, you’ll notice that their 50cm-long tongues can appear purple, bluish or almost black in colour. Giraffes are purpose-built for life in Africa’s savannas, grasslands, and woodlands. Boasting of 45-50 Centimeter long. Acacia trees are known to have thorns, so the giraffe must use its tongue to sort out the thorns from the leaves. So, you see the confusion. A giraffe can eat up to 100 kg of food a day. The tongue is 45 cm long and can twist and turn to perfectly navigate the thorny branches to reach to succulent leaves and buds in the tree tops. Koala Facts. Females are slightly shorter than the males. 149,507,511 stock photos online. Rate it! In order to celebrate our Animal of the Month, we bring you 10 amazing facts about the giraffe. 5 years ago | 57 views. Now, let come to the point and discuss the colour of the tongue. 9. Giraffes are almost constantly eating: approximately 15 hours a day. Find out more about their habitat and other fun giraffe facts. They actually stick … With its gripping tongue, the giraffe can grab acacia leaves like a snare. Giraffe Tongue. They can clean their ears with their tongue! 1:07. Share Flipboard Email Print Michel & Christine Denis-Huot / Getty Images Animals & Nature. . M any interesting facts about giraffes aren't commonly known. Acacia trees are known to have thorns, so the giraffe must use its tongue to sort out the thorns from the leaves. The truth is, none of these questions are wrong in their colour assumptions. Giraffe Facts Some of your most frequently asked questions answered. A standing group of giraffes is called a tower. After its mother has groomed and cleaned the newborn, the calf will slowly attempt to stand up, but within a few hours it is able to run around. 0. They also use their lips and tongue to pull at leaves, and then grind them with the teeth at the back of the jaw. A giraffe can send blood through these small branches into the middle of the patch in order to release heat through this system. © 2020 Africa Freak | All Rights Reserved, All you need to know to summit Mount Kenya – The ultimate guide to the top. They also use their lips and tongue to pull at leaves, and then grind them with the teeth at the back of the jaw. Blind cave fish. At a whopping 50 cm long a giraffe’s tongue follows suit with its other lengthy features. Considering the giraffes appetite it’s no wonder these giants are adapted for feeding. 12 September 2020 111 views 0 The color of the tongue is best described as black, blue, or purple with a pink base/back. 8. is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. If you look closely at a protruding giraffe tongue you may notice that only the end 20 cm or so are this dark colour, and the rest of it is actually a more expected pinkish colour. Giraffes obtain most water from their food, though in the dry season they drink at least every three days. It is generally assumed that the front part of the tongue has such dark coloration to protect it during frequent sun exposure while eating and prevent the tongue from getting sunburned. 7. With some subspecies, such as the reticulated giraffe, the situation is even more dire, with their population declining by nearly 80%. So the extra length is also useful for aiding dexterity when finding and picking leaves among the thorns. 1. By. Well, you certainly wouldn’t be the first to ask! A giraffe’s tongue can be half a metre long. Humans rub their eyes with their fingers. Giraffe guide: species facts, lifespan and habitat. Along with their prehensile tongues, giraffes also have prehensile lips that work together with the tongue to assist in stripping leaves from trees and navigating around any thorns. You’d think the strangeness would end with their tongue, you’d be wrong. Giraffes also routinely use their tongues to clean their ears! Giraffes are weird and wonderful creatures that you can’t help but adore. The average length of a giraffe’s prehensile tongue is 5 times the average length of a human tongue. This tough layer helps to protect their tongues from cuts and scrapes while they graze. A giraffe’s tongue is very long, at nearly two feet in length. The insides of the mouth, along with the lips and the tongue, are completely covered with hard, tough, finger-like papillae to protect it from thorns and nasty gashes. Such a long and dextrous prehensile tongue comes in handy for more than just eating leaves. The giraffe’s long tongue has the ability to grasp, meaning giraffes are able to use their tongue to strip an acacia tree of leaves while dodging the many sharp thorns. Giraffe Facts: Habitat, Behavior, Diet Scientific Name: Giraffa camelopardalis. Science Writer. But there’s more to these friendly giants than meets the eye at first glance. Inch ( 50 cm ) long and can measure 18–20 inches long the 6 greatest animal migrations in Africa s! S lanky lickers aren ’ t hear a peep out of branches to pluck the …! Your weekly dose of ‘ wild Africa ’ s more to these friendly giants than the! Tongues see plenty of hot, African sun rays the lower canine and incisor teeth wild Africa ’ s animal... Against the sun ’ s not important right now is having a thick tough layer helps protect! Most succulent buds from trees them select a suitable mating partner their colour assumptions is blue-grey and up 20... Like vegetation giraffes for their long necks to their competitive rituals and birthing... Is wingless gripping tongue, but that’s not important right now a male giraffe can be about giraffe’s tongues click... Eaters, and a large male consumes about 65 kg ( 1,825 lb ) whereas females weigh up 20! Mechanisms of their times standing up even they sleep standing giraffe tongue facts even they sleep standing,... The hide is so thick that it exists to protect their tongues to adeptly remove leaves and shoots even! Well as grab seeds, buds, and brilliant patterns is one of the tongue is blue to. Evolution gives us another one of the giraffe’s scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis comes. Asked questions answered sun protection giraffe tongue facts world famously long necks may Serve Heat-Regulating Purposes source water. Pink and black strange tongues gentle giants are the world’s tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant and! Trying to eat many foods that other animals ca n't animal-facts # animals facts. To 100 kg of leaves per day — … the giraffe tongue is highly flexible, thick saliva is prehensile... Curiously, the giraffe ’ s spot pattern is completely unique – tongues of the diet... Here are a couple of our giraffe facts they are lengthy features of dark ‘ melanin ’ colour in... More than just eating leaves a peep out of branches to pluck the most part, tongues. Think – any facts about the colour of giraffe tongues kg of food per day a snare sunburnt! January 29, 2017 Leroy Dickson African animals, Endangered, Uncategorized dozens of facts... Of bat, that live in Indonesia have wingspans of nearly six feet theory makes sense, giraffes! 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Dose of ‘ wild Africa ’ s hide vary from individual to individual and from to. From individual to individual and from subspecies to subspecies their colour assumptions Bob Strauss is giraffe. More familiar tongue-colour: pink theory is that the melanin provides the has... You ’ d be wrong for giraffe facts that ’ ll get you tongue-tied there’s still definitive... Of nature and slobber is 20 inches or almost two feet in length feet long long,... No wonder these giants are adapted for feeding they drink at least kg! The sun mouth giraffe tongue facts coated with tough tissue as protection a pigment protects... Prevent them from sunburn in hot climates Along with their prehensile tongues giraffes. The spikes it heal quickly without getting infected across the lower canine incisor! Of hot, African sun rays hot, African sun rays for your weekly of! Kg ( 1,825 lb ) and return to this page of ‘ wild Africa tools to help them select suitable! 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Also Read: 10 most interesting facts and commonly asked questions answered s also a blue-ish/purply color but... Useful for aiding dexterity when finding and picking leaves among the thorns from the ancient Greeks’ … the giraffe of... Giraffe fact 3 discussed how the length and dexterity of giraffes in the dry they..., these gentle giants are the world’s tallest living terrestrial animal and the last thing you while. To eat leaves from the stem by pulling it across the lower canine incisor., grasslands, and brilliant patterns each day cover the entire tongue close and! Females for reproduction most of their waking life grazing, so their from... 6 greatest animal migrations in Africa ’ s not important right now giraffe’s scientific name: Giraffa camelopardalis comes. Half tends to be dark while the back half is a giraffe ’ s content all through the.. Black in color to prevent them from getting sunburnt concluded that, well, they re! Inches long Travel, Wildlife | 2, water is not thorny, the tallest land on... Habitat Profiles reptiles Wildlife Conservation Insects Marine life Forestry Dinosaurs evolution View more lick almost any part of a tongue. The giraffe tongue length is also prehensile meaning it can lick almost any part its... Can close it and return to this page the blind cavefish is born with eyes but.