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Giraffe Thermoregulation: a review

The ability to maintain a relatively constant body temperature is central to the survival of mammals. Giraffes are found in relatively hot rather than cold environments, have a body temperature of 38.5 ± 0.5°C, and must have evolved appropriate thermoregulatory mechanisms to maintain this temperature and to survive in their chosen habitats. Their thermoregulation depends on anatomical features and behavioural and physiological mechanisms. To minimize physiological thermoregulation giraffes orientate their bodies to optimize radiant heat gain and to maximize convective

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The structural organization of the carotid arterial system of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Carotid arteries in the giraffe were removed and their structural organization studied with light microscopy. It has been shown that the carotid artery has a largely muscular structure in the adult except for the carotid baroreceptor area located at the carotid‐occipital junction. The fetus carotid has an elastic structure in its caudal portion and a musculo‐elastic structure in its cranial portion. It is proposed here that the muscular structure of the carotid arterial system constitutes part of the structural mechanism

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The structure of the masseter muscle in the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

In the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the masseter muscle was divided into several layers. The superficial and more medial (second) tendinous sheets of the masseter muscle fused with each other at the dorso-caudal part and a fleshy portion was located between these tendinous sheets. In the rostral part, the most superficial tendinous sheet turned around as a compact tendon and attached to the facial crest (Crista facialis). The turned tendinous sheet, however, never fused with the second tendinous sheet and this

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Gross Anatomy of the Intestine in the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

We describe the macroscopic anatomy of the intestine of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). The small intestine was divided into duodenum, jejunum and ileum as usual. The caecum was attached to the ileum by a long ileocaecal fold, and to the proximal ansa of the ascending colon by a caecocolic fold. The ascending colon was the most developed portion of the gross intestine and had the most complex arrangement with three ansae: the proximal ansa, the spiral ansa and the distal

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Development of the Giraffe Horn and Its Blood Supply

The giraffe horn is an unusual cranial exostosis that lacks clear delineation and categorization as either horn or antler. The distinction between the two is made by contrasting their methods of development and basic composition. This process of development has not been detailed in the giraffe, a factor contributing to the difficulty in distinguishing the classification of these horns. In a chronological series of giraffe horns from prenatal and postnatal animals, we have observed unique morphologies that define their proper

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Quantitative Anatomy of the Trachea of the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)

We described the macroscopic and quantitative anatomy of the trachea of the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi). The trachea of one juvenile male giraffe (25 months of age) weighing 754 kg was used in this study. The length of the neck was 125 cm. The trachea had 107 cm in length on its cervical part and 18 cm on its thoracic part. The total number of cartilage was 87.74 at the neck and 13 at the thorax. The general shape of

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The digestive morphophysiology of wild, free-living, giraffes

We have measured rumen-complex (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum) and intestine (small and large combined) mass in 32 wild giraffes of both sexes with body masses ranging from 289 to 1441 kg, and parotid gland mass, tongue length and mass, masseter and mandible mass in 9 other giraffes ranging in body mass from 181 to 1396 kg. We have estimated metabolic and energy production rates, feed intake and home range size. Interspecific analysis of mature ruminants show that components of the

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Horns and other bony structures of the skull of the giraffe, and their functional significance

The gross morphology of the giraffe skull and its superficial anatomy is described. The parietal, median, occipital, orbital, azygous horns and other exostoses are described. The giraffe’s peculiar mode of intra-specific fighting is explained and the features of the giraffe’s skull are related to this. It is concluded that the skull of the male giraffe is highly specialised for its particular mode of fighting. The male differs in this respect from the female whose skull is not so developed and

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