The giraffe (Girraffe camelopardalis) is a very strange animal; it is a ruminant like a goat or a cow, but has a head and a body nearer to the horse, neck and shoulders remind you of a camel, the eyes of a bull, the legs of an antelope, the colour and fur design of a leopard. The Latin name also tries to remind us of these things. Class of mammals, order of artiodactylis, family; giraffes. The height varies from 4 to 5 meters and the weight of a ton and over.
Gestation period 14 to 15 months; one young at a time, having a weight of 70 kg. Giraffes live up to 25 years. There are many species. The most attractive is the reticulated giraffe. In kenya there is also a rare species having five horns; ( with regard to horns; there may be to or five, according to species but they are just bone protuberances covered in hairs, with a tuft at the top and are considered as having ornamental rather than defensive purposes, being used for stroking during mating season)
Long neck of a giraffe
Tough incredible to say, the giraffe, just like a mouse, has seven vertebrae in its long neck. Nature has provided it with a singular device to prevent excess blood going down t the brain when the head is lowered to the ground. A little valve closes and the pressure is proportionately decreased. The favourite diet is the spiny acacia, an umbrella shaped tree with small leaves among tufts of thorns. No fear; a special muscle on the lips is puncture proof. The tongue is half a metre long and helps to grab branches as well. Africans think the giraffe has no voice, but in fact it can sometimes bleat and sometimes grunt.
To lie down, it has to proceed with a special manouvre, so to speak, segment by segment. It feels however undefended when lying down, so it prefers to rest standing with its legs more apart than usual.
The kick of giraffe is extremely dangerous because of the leg's length and consequent speed; someone has calculated it can kick a foot ball 300 meters.. Provided the ball does not burst before.
The Nile African crocodile
The crocodile. The Nile river flows through a large chunk of Africa and from time immemorial has given hospitality to this huge reptile, called appropriately crocodylus niloticus. There are still today specimens 5 to 6 metres long and weighing one ton, but a time ago one could find creatures even 9 meters long. It is generally thought that crocodiles are the only animals which have changed very little from their prehistoric ancestors; only their size seems to have decreased.
The crocodile is a reptile which lays from 20 to 50 eggs per brood. It hides the heap of eggs in the sand and stays not too distant from the place. About 90 days afterwards, the little crocs hatch out and instinctively take a run for the water. It is the most dangerous moment for the newly born. In fact there are many enemies just waiting for the occasion, birds from the air and other animals on the ground, especially another reptile, a large lizard, which does not have to wait for the hatching but goes to dig out the eggs before they become indigestible.
Tongueless croc gets innovative eating
It is good in fact that the balance of nature is kept, otherwise the rivers would be a chock full of crocodiles, given that the mother crocodile may live up to seventy years and can be counted on to lay eggs in abundance. The crocodile has no tongue but only a stump of muscle which plugs the gullet at the time of immersion. Teeth are used to hold and tear up the prey rather than chew.
To tear the flesh from the prey, the crocodile snaps its jaws and then swiftly turns three or four times around like a rotating torpedo; since the prey cannot follow that fast, its torn to pieces. Stones have been discovered in the bellies of crocodiles; some think they may be of use in mincing the large pieces of meat swallowed without chewing. Others think the stones are just added weight to make immersion easier. The friends of the crocodile are not numerous
Even snappy jaws will not touch this bird
Only one bird has permission to get near and even to enter its mouth when it is open. The bird does the job of a toothpick and tooth brush and also (-nice sleep comes easily under the hot sun!) acts as an alarm clock to wake up the crocodile when the danger is eminent. Truly, even in the animal kingdom one can apply the proverb; a friend in need is a friend in deed.
Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris.com. He has authored more than 1000 articles on Africa Kenya animal holiday trip. Learn more of your experience in the best of all Kenya animal Holiday safaris here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php/?refferer=ezinearticles
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