Giraffe
The giraffe ( Giraffa ) is a genus of African even-toed ungulate mammals , the tallest living terrestrial animals and the largest ruminants . The genus currently consists of one species, Giraffa camelopardalis , the type species . Seven other species are extinct, prehistoric species known from fossils. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Giraffidae Genus: Giraffa Life Cycle A female giraffe give birth to a young one also known as calf after being 15 months pregnant. The calf stays near its mother and depends on her for protection and food and drinks its mother milk for about 9 to 10 months. When a calf is born it weighs about 150 pounds and stands about 6 feet tall. The transformation of a calf to a young adult is very fast and grows about 1 inch every week. A giraffe matures at about 3 to 5 years of age. They start mating usually from the age of seven Fun Facts They are the tallest mamm