MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: What causes a giraffe to make noise in the wild?

Date: Wed Oct 10 16:39:50 2001
Posted By: June M. Wingert , RM(NRM),Associate Scientist
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 1002305229.Zo
Message:

Hellow Kaylyn,

 The following is everything you need to know about giraffes, including
the kinds of noises they make and why.



GIRAFFE,Giraffa camelopardalis
Family Giraffidae
Images of Giraffes




WHAT IT IS
The biggest ruminant and the tallest mammal. Very long neck with short, 
upstanding mane, high shoulders sloping steeply to hindquarters; long legs 
nearly equal in length. Male wt 2420-4250 lb (1100-1932 kg), shoulder ht 9-
11 ft (2.7-3.3 m), top of horns up to 18 ft (5.5 m); Female wt 1540-2600 
lb (700 1182 kg), female shoulder ht 2 ft shorter. Head tapers to point; 
long, prehensile tongue. Horns: solid bone, skin covered; a main pair in 
both sexes but female's thin and tufted; male's thick and bald on top, up 
to 5 in (13.5 cm). A median horn and 4 or more smaller bumps in males. 
Tail hocklength, with long tassel. Color brown to rich chestnut (old males 
darker, even black), dissected into intricate tapestry by patches and 
blotches of lighter hair, pattern unique in each giraffe. Scent glands: 
possible glands on eyelids, nose, lips; adult males have pungent smell. 
Teats: 4. 
SUBSPECIES
Eight recognized races, the reticulated giraffe (G. c. reticulata) of 
north Kenya most distinctive its latticework of thin lines separating dark 
patches is also most unlike the markings of any other mammal. The familiar 
Masai giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi) of East Africa has the most irregular 
pattern. 
RELATIVES
The rare okapi, Okapia johnstoni, confined to a small region within the 
Congo Basin and only discovered early this century, is a dead ringer for 
the rainforest ancestor of the giraffe. 
WHERE IT LIVES
Formerly throughout arid and dry savanna zones south of the Sahara, 
wherever trees occur. Eliminated from most of West African and southern 
Kalahari range but still reasonably common even outside wildlife 
preserves. 
GOOD PLACES TO SEE IT
Too numerous to mention; most approachable along traveled roads in the 
popular national parks. 
ECOLOGY
Equipped to exploit a 6 foot band of foliage beyond reach of all other 
terrestrial browsers except the elephant. The 18 inch (45 cm) tongue and a 
modified atlas-axis joint that lets the head extend vertically further 
increase the height advantage. Giraffes can browse crowns of small trees; 
big bulls can reach 19 feet, a yard higher than cows. Feed mainly on broad 
leafed deciduous foliage in the rains and on evergreen species at other 
seasons; menu includes 100 species but Acacia and Combretum trees are 
mainstays in most areas. Narrow muzzle and flexible upper lip, along with 
the prehensile tongue, enable this animal to harvest the most nutritious 
leaves in the quantity (up to 75 lb, 134 kg per day) necessary to sustain 
its great bulk. Drinks every 2 to 3 days when water available but also 
extracts water from green leaves; spends dry season near evergreen 
vegetation, as along watercourses, dispersing more widely in the rains. 
ACTIVITY
Females spend just over half a 24 hour day browsing, males somewhat less 
(43%). Night is mostly spent Iying down ruminating, especially hours after 
dark and before dawn. Bulls spend about 22% of the 24 hours walking, 
compared to 13% for cows the extra mileage goes into searching for cows in 
heat. 
SOCIAL/MATING SYSTEM
The giraffe is nonterritorial and sociable, living in loose, open herds. 
At a given moment a giraffe may be in a herd composed of all males, all 
females, females and young, or of both sexes and all ages or all alone if 
it is a mature bull or a cow guarding a new calf. There are no leaders and 
minimum coordination of herd movements. The fluid nature of giraffe 
society reflects the need to spend most of its time feeding and to move 
independently between variably spaced trees, and size that makes it 
unnecessary to bunch together for mutual security. Also height and 
excellent eyesight enable giraffes to maintain visual contact at long 
distances a dozen may be dispersed over 1/2 mi (0.8 km) of savanna and 
still be in a herd. In fact giraffes rarely cluster together unless they 
happen to be attracted to the same tree, nervous over the presence of 
lions, or aggregated in the open. Even at rest, herd members stay over 20 
yd apart. As usual, females are more sociable than males and rarely out of 
sight of other females. Mothers of small calves associate most 
consistently, at least partly because of a mutual attraction between 
youngsters that results in creches of up to 9 calves. Average spacing 
between calves is usually less than 10yd. Males remain in maternal herds 
until they outgrow their resemblance to females at about 3 years, after 
which they join bachelor herds. They eventually leave their natal range, 
whereas females stay put. Home ranges of adults and subadults of the two 
sexes average 63 miles square in Tsavo NP (163 km square), hut vary 
enormously from 2 up to 252 miles square (5-654 km square). Once settled, 
hulls have smaller ranges than cows. 
HOW IT MOVES
A giraffe has just 2 gaits walk and gallop. The lowg legs and short trunk 
decree an ambling walk, with the entire weight supported alternately on 
left and right legs, as in camels. The long neck moves in synchrony to 
maintain balance. In galloping (top speed 37 mph [60 kph]), forelegs and 
hind legs work in pairs like a running rabbit's. To drink, a giraffe must 
either straddle or bend its forelegs. The same is true of the okapi, 
disproving the idea that the giraffe's extra long neck and legs are the 
reason. 
REPRODUCTION
Year round, with rainy season conception peak. First pregnant in fourth 
year, gestation 14 to 14.5 months; minimum interval hetween calves c. 16 
months. Males begin competing for matings at 7 years hut continue growing, 
giving seniors a decided weight and height advantage. Male's head also 
gains weight with age, through bone deposition the process that creates 
the extra knobs on an old bull's head enabling a bull to deliver ever 
heavier blows during contests. Combat is rare, though, as bulls from the 
same area all know their place in a rank hierarchy established through 
daily contests while maturing in bachelor herds. By the time a female in 
estrus is ready to mate, the local alpha male has usually supplanted all 
lesser rivals without ever coming to blows. 
OFFSPRING AND MATERNAL CARE
If we assume Serengeti giraffes are typical, a cow returns to the same 
location each time she calves The first week or so a calf lies out half 
the day and most of the night, carefully guarded by its mother, which 
usually stays within 11 to 25 yd of her offspring for the first 2 weeks, 
although mothers may stay over 100 yd from a hidden calf and even leave it 
alone to go to water. The increased security of a maternity group guarding 
calves in a creche allows a mother to go further and stay away longer. But 
calves are rarely left totally unattended; absent mothers usually return 
before dark to suckle their offspring and stay with them overnight. 
Although giraffes are weaned as yearlings and nutritionally independent at 
16 months, the maternal bond lasts up to 22 months. 
PREDATORS
From 50 to 75% of calves fall prey to lions and spotted hyenas the first 
months, despite hiding and the mother's determined defense. As adults are 
too big to be regular prey, a mother will stand over and defend her calf 
against lions, which run the risk of being kicked to death if they get 
within striking distance. Females never use their horns, and males only 
use theirs in contests with peers. 
HOW THEY COMMUNICATE
The idea that giraffes are mute is a myth. Though normally silent, calves 
bleat and make a mewing call, cows seeking lost calves bellow, and 
courting bulls may emit a raucous cough. Giraffes also give alarm snorts, 
and moaning, snoring hissing, and flutelike sounds have been reported. 
GIRAFFE BEHAVIOR GiUIDE
Expect to see and hear  Usual context and meaning 
Male Advertising Dominance Male
A big hull walking confidendy in dhe erect posture, head high, or urine" 
testing males.  Observe behavior of other bulls toward such an animal 
especially whether they discreedy move out of his path.

Aggression
CHALLENGE TO SPAR OR FIGHT
Males only. Females, do not spar or fight.
1. Challenger makes nonchalant approach, stands facing opponent in erect 
posture. Probable winner of a sparring contest can be foretold if one 
stands more erect or is taller than the other.
2. If opponent responds in kind, they have a confrontation.
3. They move stiff legged into parallel posinon, or
4. March in step with necks horizontal, looking straight ahead.
5. They rub heads and necks and twine necks or lean against one another, 
ears flapping (low intensity), with pauses while gazing into distance.  
Assessing opponent's weight.
6. Contestants aim blows at rump, flanks, or neck either from head tohead 
or head to tail posinon, damping impact by leaning away. Skillful rocking 
with blows avoids damage. The rare hard blow that lands solidly can down 
an opponent.
Standing broadside in erect posture.
Angle horn threat from broadside stance.  Aiming horns at adversary is 
intennon movement or threat to stnke a blow.

OTHER ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THREAT DISPLAYS
Sideswiping, mounnng, displacement activines. 
Submission
Giving way turning away from approaching individual; jumping aside.  
Yielding to displacing superior.
Head and ears lowered, chin in.  Appeasement display. 
Displacement Activities
Pretended feeding; scraping with incisors or licking. 
Courtship
MALE BEHAVIOR
Following female, closely and keeping other males away. Tending bond 
indicates female approaching or in estrus.
Urine tesung with pronounced lip curl.
Contact rubbing head on female's rump, licking her tail, nudging, gentle 
bumng, resting neck on her back.
Foreleg lifting.
Standing immobile in erect posture behind c,  Prelude to mounnng.

FEMALE BEHAVIOR
Bolung and rapid tail swishing.
Female urinating in response to male approach and contact/sniffing.
Courtship circling.
Holding tail out and deflected while standing in copulatory attitude (head 
up or down, ears back).
Mating. Male looks in danger of overbalancing 
Mother and Offspring
Young calves standing seemingly alone, just looking around.
Young calves in creches. 
Play
Racing around mother after nursing; calves gamboling; nose to nose 
greeting; older calves sparring.  Especially early and late in day. 
Response to Predators
Alert posture, head raised to maximum.  Mothers of small calves especially 
vigilant.
Snorting.  Rarely heard.
Kicking with front or hind feet.  Response to close approach, especially 
females with calf.
 http://nature-
wildlife.com/girtxt.htm



Thanks for taking the time to send in a question to the MadSci Network.

June Wingert
Mad Scientist



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