Afrikanische Giraffe. Camelopardalis Giraffa. La Giraffe africain femelle. 122.

Title

Afrikanische Giraffe. Camelopardalis Giraffa. La Giraffe africain femelle. 122.

Description

Illustration shows an African giraffe held by the bridle. The West African giraffe or Nigerian giraffe. The West African giraffe was once found in large parts of West Africa. Originally, the giraffes of the Sahel region east of Lake Chad, such as those in the Waza National Park, were also classified as this subspecies. According to genetic studies, however, the giraffes of the Sahel zone that live east of Lake Chad do not belong to the West African subspecies but to the Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum).

ca. 1830

Artist

Anonymus

Historical Description

Giraffes are a genus of mammals in the order of even-toed ungulates. As in almost all mammals, the cervical spine consists of only seven cervical vertebrae, but these are very elongated. Due to the length of the upright neck, gravity leads to unusually high pressure in the blood vessels at heart level, which must be counteracted. The giraffe's heart must therefore be particularly powerful in order to generate the required blood pressure, and because of the length of the upright neck, gravity leads to unusually high pressure in the blood vessels at heart level, which must be counteracted. The giraffe's heart must therefore be particularly powerful in order to generate the required blood pressure. Giraffes are widespread in African savannahs. Today, they only live south of the Sahara, mainly in the grassy steppes of East and South Africa.