MadSci Network: Medicine
Query:

Re: How do girraffes breathe??

Date: Tue Jan 5 13:36:19 1999
Posted By: J.M. Wingert , RM(ASM), Staff, Comparative Pathology Department, Baylor College of Medicine
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 914792339.Me
Message:

Hello Mike,
   Thanks to pub med I was able to locate the information you requested 
concerning Giraffe respiration.  I certainly hope the information below 
satisfies your  curiosity.

According to Langman VA, Bamford OS, Maloiy GM :
Measurements have been made on respiration of three resting unstressed 
adult giraffe under normal conditions. Tracheal dimensions and body 
dimensions have also been measured in a large number of giraffe and other 
mammals. The results indicate that contrary to statements in the
literature the giraffe does not have an abnormally large dead space, though 
the trachea is abnormally long and narrow. The respiratory measurements 
indicate that the giraffe breathes as predicted by published scaling 
equations, and at rest shows no abnormalities of rate or depth.
The respiratory evaporative water loss is very small. Body temperature is 
labile with a range of at least 3.3 degrees C, and oxygen consumption, 
respiratory frequency, minute volume and respiratory evaporative water 
loss are all strongly correlated with body temperature. 

Hugh-Jones P, Barter CE, Hime JM, Rusbridge MM wrote an abstract on 
"Dead space and tidal Volume of the giraffe compared with some other 
mammals"
The ventilation, tidal volume and anatomical dead-space were measured in a 
living giraffe and compared with similar measurements in a camel, red 
deer, llama and man. The giraffe had a resting tidal volume of about 3.3 
litres with a dead-space/tidal-volume ratio of 0.34. The giraffe
breathes slowly, apparently because of the unusually small diameter of 
its trachea relative to its length, compared with known measurement in 
other mammals. 

PMID: 734250, UI: 79097150 
espiration 1980;39(1):8-9 

The  reference range for CO2 level is approximately      9.6-25.9  mmol/l   
for arterial blood.

I have also included some interesting facts on the giraffe that other 
readers may enjoy .

ANATOMY: Has only 7 vertebrae in long neck- the same as humans. Each adult 
giraffe vertebrae is about 11 inches long. Special valves in the neck 
arteries help control the blood flow and heart pressure when the animal 
raises and lowers is head. This blood control prevents the animal from 
passing out by maintaining a somewhat constant amount of blood to the 
brain. The prehensile lips and long, flexible tongue help the giraffe to 
obtain food by plucking the leaves off of thorny branches. As a ruminant, 
the giraffe may swallow a great deal of leaves to store in one of 4 stomach 
compartments, to be regurgitated and chewed for later digestion. This 
allows the giraffe to watch for danger while chewing its cud. 

SENSES: Acute peripheral vision; sense of smell and hearing are excellent. 
Height provides an increased range of vision.
 
LOCOMOTION: May run up to 30 mph. 

HABITS: Browsing among the tall trees, the giraffe competes only with the 
elephant for this food source. Giraffe avoid drinking for long periods of 
time and often stand when sleeping because it is very difficult to rise 
from the kneeling position. 
     
DEFENSE: Vulnerable to predators when lying down. When cornered, it can 
inflict a destructive blow, kicking with the front legs.
 
SOCIAL UNIT: Giraffes are social animals with herds of up to 50 
individuals, but more commonly 12 to 15. This allows for better protection 
of young from predators. 

REPRODUCTION: 1 young born after gestation period of 453-464 days. Female 
gives birth while standing. Baby drops 6 feet to ground. 

Thankyou for submitting this question to MadSci.

June Wingert  RM(ASM)
Baylor College of Medicine
Center for Comparative Pathology
Center for Comparative Medicine
Houston, Texas   77030




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