giraffe
Japanese Name:
麒麟
Romaji Name:
kirin
Description
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A giraffe is a tall African mammal known for its extremely long neck, long legs, and distinctive coat pattern of brown patches separated by lighter lines. It is the tallest land animal and feeds mainly on leaves from tall trees, especially acacias.
History
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Giraffes are native to sub-Saharan Africa, with their distinctive long necks evolving to help them reach high foliage in trees.
They were first described by ancient Egyptians and have been depicted in their art as early as 4,000 years ago.
The giraffe’s name comes from the Arabic word "zarāfa," meaning "fast walker."
Ancient Greeks and Romans also knew of giraffes, calling them "camel-leopard" due to their resemblance to both camels and leopards.
Giraffes were not widely known in Europe until the 19th century, when one was sent to France as a gift from Egypt.
Today, giraffes are protected in many African countries due to habitat loss and poaching.