Hunting and
Feeding: Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
The extremely long neck associated with the giraffe is a
very beneficial evolutionary adaptation that allows this large animal to
compete with many smaller herbivores that inhabit the African Savannah (Pellew,
2009). Due to their intense height, giraffe’s are able to reach well above
their competitors and selectively browse the best parts of the tallest trees,
feeding primarily on fruits, flowers and fresh shoots on 40 – 60 different
species including commiphora, mimosa and even spiny acacia (Uhlenbroek, 2008).
Giraffes possess the ability to nip leaves from between the
long thorns of acacia trees due to the presence of long muzzles, flexible lips
and a long, dextrous tongue which enables them to reach deeps into clumps of
tree branches (Dagg & Foster, 1976). Because their lips and tongue are
covered with thick, horny bumps called papillae, giraffes are seemingly immune to
the acacias thorns (Dagg & Foster, 1976).
To ensure they have access to sufficient quality and
quantity of food – with adults eating up to 35kg a day – the giraffe roams
widely and in lean times can consume dried leaves, twigs and even thorns
(Uhlenbroek, 2008). Giraffes are ruminants, meaning they possess four stomachs
and first chew and swallow their food, before regurgitating and re-chewing, a
process that happens several times before digestion is complete (Pellew, 2009).
Uniquely however, the giraffe is able to
ruminate while walking, an adaptation which is perfect for their roaming,
nomadic lifestyle (Uhlenbroek, 2008).
Reference:
Dagg, A.I. & Foster, J.B. (1976). The giraffe: It’s biology, behaviour and ecology. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., NY.
Pellew, R.A. (2009). The feeding ecology of
a selective browser, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis).
Journal of Zoology, 202(1), 57-81.
Giraffes are so cool! I never knew that giraffes not only have 4 stomachs but that they also have papillae on their tongues to protect them from thorns while they are eating. Very cool post!
ReplyDeleteCool! Giraffes are pretty unique. I wonder how long it takes for the giraffe to swallow. Did it say in the articles?
ReplyDeleteI love giraffe! They are so graceful for an animal so large. I find that they are also fascinating as they have quite a unique trade-off with their long necks – while long necks enable them to browse plants unavailable to other species, it also poses a problem when they wish to access water. Would you say that giraffes and elephants compete for the same resource at the same feeding level, or would giraffe still be considered superior competitors for leaves at the tops of trees? Nice.
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