Photo of the Day #493: Giraffes

i-de34ad58335dfc50755f116e8a0bbdd1-Bronx Zoo 10-25-2008 572.JPG


Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), photographed at the Bronx Zoo.


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Those are nice. I miss our National Zoo Giraffe who relocated down south while her home is renovated to make way for the greater Elephant Habitat.

There appears to be sexual dimorhism going on here, with the male being darker than the female. I've read that the Giraffe's specific name came from the belief of ancient Greeks that it was the offspring of camels and leopards (a genetic, and obviously, physical, impossibility!)

By Raymond Minton (not verified) on 16 Feb 2009 #permalink