Giraffidae

family of mammals

Giraffids are mammals, in the order of the even-toed ungulates. The family has two living species, the giraffe and the okapi.

Giraffids
Temporal range: 20–0 Ma Early Miocene - recent
An okapi in Bristol Zoo, England
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Superfamily: Giraffoidea
Family: Giraffidae
Gray, 1821
Genera

See text

Taxonomy

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  • Family Giraffidae

Habitat

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The giraffe and the okapi both live in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. The giraffe lives in open savannas, while the okapi lives in the rainforests of the Congo.

Appearance

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Both animals have long necks and legs and long blue tongues. Male and female giraffes and male okapis have small horn-like stumps on their heads which are covered with skin.

Giraffes are the tallest animal living on land, with a height of over 5 m. Okapis are smaller, only up to 2 m tall.