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The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal,
the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant.
Its scientific name, which is similar to its archaic English name of camelopard,
refers to its irregular patches of color on a light background, which bear a token
resemblance to a leopard's spots.

The average mass for an adult male giraffe is 1,200 kg while the average mass
for an adult female is 850 kg. It is approximately 4.3 metres to 5.2 metres tall, although
the tallest male recorded stood almost 6 metres.The giraffe is related to other even-toed ungulates, such as deer and cattle, but is placed in a separate family, the Giraffidae,
consisting of only the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi, and their extinct relatives.
Its range extends from Chad in Central Africa to South Africa.

Giraffes usually inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands. However,
when food is scarce they will venture into areas with denser vegetation. They prefer
areas with plenty of acacia growth. They will drink large quantities of water when available,
which enables them to live for extended periods in arid areas.

The giraffe's fur may serve as a chemical defence, and is full of antibiotics and parasite repellents that gives the animal a characteristic scent.

Old males are sometimes nicknamed "stink bulls". There are at least eleven main aromatic chemicals in the fur, although indole and 3-methylindole are responsible for most of their
smell. Because the males have a stronger odour than the females, it is also suspected that
it has a sexual function. The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any
mammal, which averages 4.6 hours per 24 hours.

Fun facts about the giraffe
The word "giraffe" comes from an Arabic word, "zirafah", which means "the tallest of all".