Giraffes are herbivorous mammals that live in the African savannas. They can grow up to 4.5 to 6 meters tall. A large part of their height comes from their necks, which can be about 1.8 meters long. Interestingly, giraffes have only seven neck vertebrae, just like humans — but theirs are much larger.
To pump blood all the way up to their brains, giraffes need a very powerful heart. Their heart is about twice the size of a human heart and beats around 150 times per minute.
Giraffes mainly feed on the leaves of acacia trees. Their long tongues — around 45 to 50 centimeters — help them reach leaves between the thorns. Their tongues are also dark-colored, which helps protect them from sunburn.
