Giraffes By: Charlotte Beggs #

Giraffes are known for there long tongues. There tongues can grow up to 18 inches long! That is as long as your arm! With its tongue, it can carefully pluck out leaves out of the thorniest bush. Did you know that giraffes have horns? I didn’t. Do you see those little hairy things on there heads? Those are horns. Hair grows on them. It’s the only mammal that has hair on their horns! Did you know that giraffes have seven bones in there necks? We do too! But theirs are much bigger than ours. The bones are called vertebrae. They link together easily so the can move their necks gracefully. Speaking of necks, do you know what necking means? Keep reading to find out!

Necking is like hugging to giraffes. When they neck, they cross heads. When two males start necking, it can get dangerous. They swing there heads back and forth. They usually fight over food or girls. It lasts about twenty min. and then they get tired. Did you know the giraffes stand while giving birth. They do. That mean it’s a long drop to the ground when a baby is born.

Switzer, Merebeth Nature’s Children: Giraffes.