While at the giraffe exhibit make sure to share the following information with those that are with you. The student worksheets have blanks for them to fill in. The answers are the BOLD words in the following statements:

1. The word "giraffe" comes from the ARABIC word "xiraph," which means TALLEST OF THEM ALL! (See FastFacts: Giraffe, Ep. 1)

2. A manatee and two-toed sloth each have 6 neck bones. Ducks have 22 and humans have 7. How many does the giraffe have? 7 neck bones. (See Fast Facts: Giraffe, Ep. 1)

3. A giraffe requires 600 POUNDS of muscles in order for their neck to work! (See Fast Facts: Giraffe: Ep. 2)

4. How long do they sleep each day? 20 MINUTES a day.

5. Bull giraffes can have a 2.5 FEET-LONG heart with 3 INCH-THICK muscle walls. (See Fast Facts: Giraffe, Ep. 4)

6. How long can their tongues be? 18 TO 20 INCHES long. (See Fast Facts: Giraffe, Ep.5)

7. A giraffe's lungs are 8 TIMES larger than a humans. (See Fast Facts: Giraffe, Ep. 6)

BONUS:
Here's some additional information for you to share with those that are with you:

A. NASA studied the Giraffe to invent the anti-gravity space suit. In space astronauts had a major problem with blood circulation. A giraffe’s skin just so happens to be VERY tight, forcing the blood from their extremities back up into their upper bodies and not allowing it to pool in their feet and legs. NASA took this design, that God gave the giraffe, and turned it into a major tool for our astronauts.

B. A bull giraffes favorite past time is called . . . “necking”! This is a family program so don’t worry. Giraffe necking is where they stand next to each other, wind up, and whack each other with their “horns”. The correct name for those structures is “ossicones”! They’re made from ossified (hardened bone), cartilage and are covered in fur. They do this to establish dominance. The fights can be VERY violent and have actually led to deaths!

C. The arteries leaving the heart to the brain have one-way valves that kick in to stop the flow of blood when a giraffe bends and lowers their head below their heart. If not, the blood would rush to their head causing them to have a stroke and killing them. In addition, at the base of the brain the arteries end with a small mass of blood vessels called a “rete mirabile”, or “wonder net”. This also protects the brain from the rushing blood and will also equalize their blood pressure. This is an amazing design by God that is also found in sloths, ant-eaters and some lemurs!