The respiratory air of the giraffe is exhaled at temperatures substantially below body core temperature. As a consequence, the water content of the exhaled air is reduced to levels below that in pulmonary air, resulting in substantial reductions in respiratory water loss. Measurements under outdoor conditions showed that at an ambient air temperature of 24 degrees C, the exhaled air was 7 degrees C below body core temperature, and at ambient air temperature of 17 degrees C, the exhaled air