Giraffidae is a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a recent common ancestor with deer and bovids. It presently comprises two extant genera, the giraffe (Giraffa) and the okapi (Okapia), both confined to sub-Saharan Africa: giraffes to open savannas, the okapi to the dense rainforest of the Congo. Both genera share skin-covered horns called ossicones, a long black prehensile tongue, lobed canine teeth, and patterned coats that serve as camouflage. Male giraffes are the tallest of all mammals, with their horns reaching about 5.5 meters above the ground, while the okapi stands about 1.7 meters at the shoulder.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ186154, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Giraffidae
WikipediaIntroductionQuote, Introduction
The Giraffidae are a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a recent common ancestor with deer and bovids.
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Giraffidae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 5
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Giraffidae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Giraffidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 23.04 ... "early_interval": "Aquitanian"
Wikidata: Giraffidae
Wikidata Q186154, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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