HOME | DD

Okavanga — Giraffe Portraits 2

#game #giraffe #kzn #safari #southafrica #wildanimals #wildlifephotography
Published: 2016-08-18 12:14:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 420; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 3
Redirect to original
Description A Journey of GiraffesThere is probably no other animal in Africa so instantly recognisable as a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) , with its tall, elegant shape, long neck and legs, and unmistakable skin pattern of reddish-brown patches. For the record, an adult male giraffe can be as tall as 18-19 feet (ca.6 meters) with females and couple of feet shorter. Perhaps surprisingly given the elegance of their movement, adult male giraffes weigh in at over 1 tonne (ca 1100 kg) and females at about 0.8 tonnes(over 800 kg). Another odd fact about the neck of a giraffe (up to 8 feet long in adults) is that it has the same number of cervical vertebrae (seven) as we have. However, evolution has lengthened and strengthened them to support and manoeuvre such a long and heavy structure. 

Why do giraffes have long necks? From the evolutionary perspective there are probably at least three reasons. First, the taller you are the further your view, an advantage
Related content
Comments: 6

LindArtz [2016-08-18 21:51:21 +0000 UTC]

Ahhh I'd go batty if my tongue ever got that dry. !!    Great portrait. !!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2016-08-19 10:52:06 +0000 UTC]

You don'r eat acacia leaves, Linda! (Or do you?)

David

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LindArtz In reply to Okavanga [2016-08-23 00:01:12 +0000 UTC]

Iiiii Probably would if I could ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2016-08-23 05:58:53 +0000 UTC]

But, there is a curious point about acacia trees and leaves. Naturalists noted by observing giraffes that they prefer to approach an acacia tree from downwind, ie the wind is blowing from tree to giraffe. (When there is a wind or breeze.) The reason is that acacia trees have evolved to make their leaves taste nasty to giraffes by producing more tannin, and they also release a chemical signal that carries this warning of leaves being eaten downwind (or upwind?) to neighbouring trees so that they too can start generating more tannin. Thus, giraffes in turn have learned to approach a tree that cannot have detected that chemical signal. (Or something like that!)

David

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LindArtz In reply to Okavanga [2016-08-23 22:52:37 +0000 UTC]

...well....I say, they better start taking to eating meat, perhaps. - Evolve! As the trees have learnt to do!    

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2016-08-24 05:42:22 +0000 UTC]

Good emojis! Evolving into carnivores might be a bit much, Linda, but a step that would benefit giraffes would be a change to the sensory system such that it discounted the bitter taste.

Cheers

David

👍: 0 ⏩: 0