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Masai Giraffe

Although it is the tallest creature on earth, with a kick capable of decapitating a lion, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is a nervous animal constantly on the lookout for danger. It is vulnerable when splaying its front legs to drink and usually sleeps standing up, napping for a few minutes at a time for a total of about half an hour a day. Despite this its huge, brown eyes always seem bright and, surrounded by long, curling lashes, are one of its most endearing features. Although its neck is nearly 2m long (making tree browsing possible) it contains only seven vertebrae - the same as in a human - but, like the bones in its legs, they are hugely elongated.

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