- Lions are giraffes chief predators.
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- A giraffe has only 7 vertebrae (bony segments of the spine) in its neck - each one is 0.3m (1 ft) long.
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- Giraffes usually sleep in a standing position, and protect themselves by kicking.
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- Herds of two to ten members, led by an adult bull, contain cows, calves, and immature males.
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- A giraffe has a strange way of fighting other giraffes - they push each other neck, to neck.
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- Giraffes inhabit dry, tree-scattered land south of the African Sahara. They do not migrate during dry seasons because they get their food and most of their moisture from high tree leaves.
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- The few times giraffes do drink, they must spread their long forelegs wide to reach the water.
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- Due to the great distance between the animal's heart and head, its vascular system is equipped with valves so that sufficient blood reaches the brain.
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- Giraffes are the tallest of all animals. The male averages 5.3 m (17 ft) in height. Their long necks make it possible for them to reach the tree tops on the African plains, where they live, to eat leaves that other animals can't get at it.
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