Mammals
Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
The giraffe is the tallest animal on Earth, reaching over 5 metres. Its very long neck — with just seven vertebrae, like almost all mammals — lets it browse acacia canopies out of reach of every other herbivore.
In short
The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is a species with IUCN conservation status VU (Vulnerable). It lives in savanna and open woodland, moving in loose herds. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the giraffe live?
It lives in savanna and open woodland, moving in loose herds. It has a prehensile tongue up to 45 cm long and a powerful heart to pump blood all the way to the brain; special valves keep it from fainting when it lowers its head.
Is the giraffe endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates the giraffe (as a single species) Vulnerable (VU), with a 36-40% decline over three generations. In August 2025 the IUCN recognised four distinct species, some more threatened (the northern giraffe heading towards Endangered). Threats are habitat loss, poaching and political instability.
Facts about the giraffe
- It is the tallest animal in the world, over 5 metres.
- It has only seven neck vertebrae, like almost all mammals.
- Each giraffe has a unique coat pattern, like a fingerprint.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Giraffa camelopardalis (Vulnerable) · IUCN SSC Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group (2025)
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.