giraffe brittany ferguson

26
The Infamous Giraffe Brittany Ferguson Perspectives on Nature and The Environment Professor Mark McGinley

Upload: mark-mcginley

Post on 18-May-2015

2.051 views

Category:

Technology


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

The Infamous Giraffe

Brittany FergusonPerspectives on Nature and The Environment

Professor Mark McGinley

Page 2: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Index• Evolution• Habitat• Species and

Population• Anatomy• Basic and

Behaviors• Reproduction• Predation

Page 3: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Evolution

Antelope-like species appeared about 20 million years ago in Africa, Asia, and Europe

• Lamarck and Darwin’s Theory: competition for food became fierce between antelope species – The antelope adapted longer necks to get

leaves from the tops of trees.

Page 4: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Lamarck and Darwin’s Theory

Page 5: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Species and Population

• Current Population is approximately 100,000– decreased by 30% in the last decade.

• Only one species, Giraffa camelopardalis, was classified.– “camel and leopard”

• Six species were classified in a study conducted in 2007.

• First separation of species of Giraffe was between happened about 1 million years ago

• West African, is endangered and two others are becoming endangered

Page 6: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Species

Distinction of species and their genetic variation.

Page 7: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Habitat

• Historically, giraffe was spread around Africa, today they are found in the Sub-Saharan areas

• The giraffes in the south have more stable populations.

• Savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands where acacia is abundant

Page 8: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Anatomy • The giraffe is the tallest living animal and one of the heaviest land animals

• As adults:

– males stand 15-19 feet tall and weigh 1,700-4,300 pounds

– females stand 13-16 feet tall and weigh 1,200-2,600 pounds

• Compared to other hoofed mammals the giraffe has a short body, and disproportionately long legs.

Page 9: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Circulatory System

• Has a very large heart proportionally, compared to other animals– Can weigh up to 22

pounds and measure 2 feet long

• Unique blood pressure system allows the giraffe to stretch and lower it’s neck– Elastic blood vessels– Skin on legs is very tight

to control high blood pressure

Page 10: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Neck

• 6 feet tall• 7 vertebrae

Page 11: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Ossicones

• One of the few ruminant animals born with horns

• Both sexes have skin covered horns

• Male’s are thicker and used in fights

Page 12: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Legs and Feet

• A giraffes front legs are about 10% longer than their hind legs– Due to the heavy muscular development

at the base of the neck

• Mature giraffes have large hooves, around 12 inches wide.

• Can run up to 60 mph • Main defense against predators, a

kick from the front feet can kill a lion

Page 13: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Digestive System • Herbivorous diet

– Giraffes eat 65-75 pounds of food a day

• Efficient at extracting all nutrients from leaves

• Extract water from food

• The giraffe is a ruminant animal with a four chambered stomach

Page 14: Giraffe  brittany ferguson
Page 15: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Mouth and Tongue• On average tongue

is 18 inches• Uses it to rip

leaves off of thorny acacia trees

• Inside of mouth is rough and can handle thorny acacia leaves

• Flexible lips

Page 16: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Basics and Behaviors• Male are called Bull, female-Cow and baby-

Calves• Average life span of 25 years• Cannot swim• Giraffe sounds

– beyond the range of human hearing

• Giraffes search for food and mates 10-24 hours/day

• Giraffe is not territorial, social and lives in loose open herds.– There are no leaders of the herd– Giraffes can be spread about large areas

Page 17: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Sleep

• Giraffes spend twenty minutes to one hour a day sleeping or resting

Page 18: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Male Dominance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXcGvQqWB-0http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=C7HCIGFdBt8&feature=rellist&playnext=1&list=PL2A44FC594B16D451

• Most of giraffe sex is homosexual • Necking

– A way for “teenage” male giraffes to see who is stronger

– The way that older male giraffes show dominance to potential female mates

• Giraffes are not territorial

Page 19: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Mating Process• Breeding season is year

round• Female reach sexual

maturity at ages 3-4– estrus or every two

weeks, where female excretes pheromones

– Ovulation

•Male giraffes are ready to mate at ages 6-7–Must impress the female with its dominance-necking–Male can detect a female’s excretion of pheromones–Flehmen–Repeatedly tries to mount female

Page 20: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

•Females can give birth to up to 12 calves in their lifetime•Immediately following coitus, the male leaves the female to take care of the baby, but remains involved in the calves life for up to 3 years.•Gestation period is 13-15 months•Female gives birth while standing•The baby falls to the ground but isn’t injured

Reproduction

Page 21: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

• At birth the baby giraffe is six feet tall and can weigh 104-154 pounds

• After 20 minutes the calve can stand and is ready to milk

• Calves can walk about an hour after birth and can run within 24 hours of birth.

Calves

• Giraffe calves grow about 3 centimeters tall each day during the first week and double their height in their first year.

Page 22: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Predation• 50% of calves are

killed by predators• Predators also take

advantage of the sick and weak

• Giraffes have a successful defense against predators

• Most harmful predator is humans– Warfare– Poaching

African lionsCrocodiles LeopardsHyenas

HUMANS

Page 23: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Poaching

• Giraffes are easily killed and are poached for their meat and hide.

• Giraffe tails are highly prized by many African cultures and most often giraffes are killed for their tail alone.– Good-luck bracelets, Fly

swatters and thread for sewing or stringing beads

Page 24: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

•http://eol.org/pages/308378/overview

•http://giraffesanctuary.wildlifedirect.org/2008/10/01/how-many-species-of-giraffes-exist/

•http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2007/12/giraffe_species

•http://www.natureinstitute.org/pub/ic/ic10/giraffe

•http://www.macroevolution.net/giraffe-habitat.html#.Tr7NhWAuhCc

Bibliography

Page 25: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Questions?

Page 26: Giraffe  brittany ferguson

Expected Learning Outcomes

1. What is unique about giraffes social behaviors?

2. What is important about the predation of giraffes?

3. How has the giraffe’s body adapted to support its size?