Nasal heat exchange in the giraffe and other large mammals
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 […]
Ovarian Ultrasonography Correlated with Fecal Progestins and Estradiol During the Estrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy in Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
Fecal and urinary progestin analyses have shown that giraffes express a short reproductive cycle, averaging 15 days, compared with other large ruminants. However, actual ovarian events have not been correlated with the hormonal pattern. In this study, mature cycling female Rothschild giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) were repeatedly examined by transrectal ultrasonography to correlate ovarian function […]
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 […]
A Comparative Assessment of the Size of the Frontal Air Sinus in the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
The current study examines the frontal air sinus of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) cranium with the aim of evaluating previously offered hypotheses as to why they have such an atypically voluminous frontal sinus relative to other artiodactyls. To date, no quantification of the frontal sinus in the adult or developing giraffe has been undertaken or […]
Structural evidence for insertion of collagen fibers to smooth muscle cells in the carotid arterial system of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Previous anatomical studies have failed to resolve the question relating to whether or not collagen fibers, like elastic fibers, are attached to smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall. The current ultrastructural study demonstrates the insertion of collagen fibers to the sacrolemmal dark areas in the smooth muscle cells of the carotid arterial system of […]
Modified neck muscular system of the giraffe (Giraffe camelopardalis)
The muscular and skeletal systems of the long neck were morphologically examined in order to clarify their modification and their functional significant in the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). The longissimus, the thoracic and cervical, spinalis and semispinalis, the cranial and caudal head oblique, and the multifidius muscles, and the nuchal ligament were observed at their origin […]
Necks-for-sex or competing browsers? A critique of ideas on the evolution of giraffe
Recent years have witnessed a resurgence in tests of the evolution and origin of the great height and long neck of the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis. The two main hypotheses are (1) long necks evolved through competition with other browsers allowing giraffe to feed above them (‘competing browsers’ hypothesis); or (2) the necks evolved for direct […]
Subfamily Giraffinae – Giraffe
Subfamily Giraffinae is a monotypic subfamily, represented by a single surviving species, the Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis. The Giraffe , Giraffa camelopardalis, is the only extant representative of the genus Giraffa. Together with the only other living giraffid, the Okapi Okapia johnstoni, they represent the extant members of a previously more diverse group. This chapter covers […]
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 […]
Clinical, Anatomic Pathological, Thermographic and Radiological Findings in a Giraffe Afflicted with Arthritis
Chronic arthritis is a known medical problem in many species also in artiodactyla. The moist coldness that exists in the latitudes of Germany enhances this condition in animals that are accustomed to dry coldness in their natural habitats. This case report shows that thermography can be used for the assessment of arthritis in giraffes. Post-mortem […]