SIZE: Height to top of head (m) 5 m, (f) 4,5 m; mass (m) 1 200 kg, (f) 800 kg.
COLOUR: Well-defined, irregularly shaped patches varying from fawn to dark brown, patterned on a paler background that shades to white on the lower legs. Colouring darkens with age; varies widely geographically.
SPEED: 50 km/hr
GESTATION PERIOD: 14 -15 months
POTENTIAL LONGEVITY: 28 years
MOST LIKE: Unlike any other animal.
HABITAT: From sparsely wooded scrubland to thickly over-grown bush country, especially where there are acacia and other thorn trees to provide the giraffe's staple diet of leaves, and to provide camouflage.