Giraffe with Baby Photo - Miami Metro Zoo

Mother & Baby Giraffe, Ostrich, and 2 Gravy Zebras. Photo taken 11-26-05 at Miami Metro Zoo by C. Ashlock 

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Status: Lower Risk

The biggest ruminant and the tallest mammal. Very long neck with short, upstanding mane, high shoulders sloping steeply to hindquarters; long legs nearly equal in length. Male wt 2420-4250 lb (1100-1932 kg), shoulder ht 9-11 ft (2.7-3.3 m), top of horns up to 18 ft (5.5 m); Female wt 1540-2600 lb (700 1182 kg), female shoulder ht 2 ft shorter. Head tapers to point; long, prehensile tongue. Horns: solid bone, skin covered; a main pair in both sexes but female's thin and tufted; male's thick and bald on top, up to 5 in (13.5 cm). A median horn and 4 or more smaller bumps in males. Tail hocklength, with long tassel. Color brown to rich chestnut (old males darker, even black), dissected into intricate tapestry by patches and blotches of lighter hair, pattern unique in each giraffe. Scent glands: possible glands on eyelids, nose, lips; adult males have pungent smell.