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Physiological cross-sectional area of the masticatory muscles in the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Numerous studies have investigated how the skeletal morphology is related to feeding behaviour (Christiansen and Adolfssen 2005; Wroe et al. 2005; Christiansen and Wroe 2007; Ellis et al. 2009; Koyabu and Endo 2009; Koyabu et al. 2009; Koyabu and Endo 2010), although remarkably few studies have focused on the architecture of masticatory muscles from which bite forces are produced. In this regard, the quantification of physiological cross-sectional areas (PCSA) of muscle is critical for estimation of bite forces. PCSA is

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Carotid Haemodynamics in the Giraffe

In a research letter to this journal on the physiology of the giraffe, McCalden et al. suggested that cranial blood flow in the giraffe is regulated by an autoregulatory response of the cranial vasculature. Their conclusion was based on two points: 1) that carotid flow remains constant over a wide range of carotid pressures, and 2) that the giraffe exhibits certain postural behaviour. The argument for (2) is that giraffes always remain resting sternally for a few seconds before standing

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Vascular system of giraffe

Both the discussions of the vascular system of the giraffe…mention venous valves, but both overlook the special ‘seried’ valves found at the entry of major tributaries into the axillary and brachial veins, though not into the jugular. Fewer occur in the closely-related okapi and some in jugular and femoral veins of the bactrian camel.

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Robert Goetz: A pioneer of the study of the physiology of animals in the wild

Studying the physiology and behaviour of free-living wild animals was impossible until the technology to capture wild animals and to make measurements in the field was developed. A pioneer in this field was Robert H. Goetz who, having completed medical degrees in Germany and Switzerland, took up an appointment as a research scientist in the J.S. Marais Surgical Research Laboratory at the University of Cape Town in 1937. His expertise was in cardiovascular physiology and pathology and he became interested

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Gaits in mammals

In recent years there has been a great deal of published work on movements of various mammals, in particular, studies on the bone morphology and range of movements of joints, the muscle structure and places of muscle attachment, the physiology of muscle performance, the peculiarities of species as mechanical systems and the specific leg movements in the gaits of some common mammals — monkeys, cheetahs, dogs, horses and pecoran species. No comprehensive work on the gaits of mammals has been

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Harvey Cushing and the regulation of blood pressure in giraffe, rat, and man: introducing ‘Cushing’s mechanism’

The fundamental mechanism that underlies essential hypertension is a high total peripheral resistance. We review here possible origins of high total peripheral resistance in physiologically hypertensive giraffes, spontaneously hypertensive rats and humans with essential hypertension. We propose that a common link could be reduced brainstem perfusion, as first suggested by Cushing in 1901. Any tendency towards reduction of cerebral blood flow to the cardiovascular control centres in rest and sleep will be prevented by activation of a response arising in

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Haemodynamics of the jugular vein in the giraffe

Controversy cotinues over the haemodynamics of the circulation to and from the head of the giraffe. The recent study by Hargens et al. provides new information explaining the absence of oedema in the legs of the ambulant giraffe. But in sedated, standing giraffes the pressure gradient down the jugular vein is about one-tenth of, and in the opposite direction to, that expected for a standing column of blood. Hargens et al. suggest that compartmentalization of the blood in the vein

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On the origin, evolution and phylogeny of giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis

The origin, phylogeny, and evolution of modern giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) is obscure. We review here the literature and conclude that the proximate ancestors of modern giraffes probably evolved in southern central Europe about 8 million years ago (Mya). These ancestors appear to have arisen from the gelocid ancestral assemblage of 20–25 Mya via the family Palaeomerycidae. From the palaeomerycids arose the Antilocaprinae (Pronghorns) via the subfamily Dromomerycinae, and two subfamilies of giraffids, the Climacoceratidae and Canthumerycidae. The terminal genus 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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