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Giraffe


Giraffe
Photo Information
Copyright: Tim Inman (tinman) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-02-25
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, SanDisk Ultra II 2GB, Hoya UV Filter
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-29 7:58
Viewed: 1036
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Reticulated Giraffe

Kruger Park again - I am mixing up the posts so that you can get a variety of animals that I saw and photographed.

Highly selective browsers feeding primarily on a variety of Acacia and Combretum species. Over a hundred species may be eaten, depending on what is seasonally available. Although mostly leaves and shoots are taken, giraffe also eat flowers, vines and herbs. Giraffe have also been seen to eat weaver-bird nests with young inside, and may chew on bones, perhaps to gain additional minerals. An average of 16-20 hours per day are spent feeding and up to 140 lbs of fresh browse are taken. Thorns do not seem to be a deterrent to feeding; the long, prehensile, muscular tongue (which can be extended up to 18 inches), thick, gluey saliva, and special upper palate shape enable the giraffe to process thorny foods. They are ruminants with a 4-chambered stomach

Giraffe drink water if it is available but can go weeks without it; they rely on the morning dew and the water content of of their food. Their very long necks are an adaptation to feeding at high levels in the treetops. The neck veins contain valves and a network of tiny veins (rete mirabile) to prevent blackouts when the animal lowers its head to drink. In addition to keeping track of predators, their extreme long-range visual acuity enables visual communication with other giraffe over several miles. Giraffe can run at speeds up to 35 mph.

Offspring begin browsing in their first month and are rarely observed to suckle after they start eating leaves. First year calf mortality is about 58%. Lions are the major predator, but calves may be taken by hyenas, leopards and African wild dogs. Life expectancy is 25 years.

Hope you like it
pablominto, viv has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Tim, Lunch time in the jungle, Great capture, Ecellent POV, BG DOF, evething seem to be sharp, I like TFS Kyle

Hello Tim,
Pleasant pose... Dynamic composition!
Natural colours and good deatils... Well done on this guy!
Regards,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 3 N: 653] (3307)
  • [2006-03-29 10:05]

Hi Tim,
They are so amazing the girafs, it is a very unusual composition but I like it.
TFS
Vivian

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-03-29 11:37]

Hi Tim,
An unusual composition but I like it. Excellent detail and colour, very nice shot.
Cheers,
Adrian

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