They even eat some fruit. Giraffes typically eat leaves from acacia trees, mimosa trees, and wild apricot trees. The leaves of this tree are very high and so the giraffe uses its long neck to reach the leaves and eat them. When in their native habitat, giraffes eat many different kinds of leaves and twigs. A giraffe has only the front teeth on the bottom; the top is just a hard pad. An adult giraffe can consume about 140 pounds of foliage each day. Volume of Food. Giraffes also browse on the twigs of trees, preferring those from the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia as they are important sources of calcium and protein to sustain the giraffe's growth rate. Giraffes are herbivores. Giraffes mainly eat the flowers, twigs, and leaves off of trees and shrubs such as Acacia, apricot and mimosa trees. In the wild, giraffes primarily eat the leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees (also various trees and shrubs in the genera Commiphora and Terminalia). The giraffe has a specialized tongue that has the ability to cope with thorns entangled with the leaves and twigs. As ruminants, giraffes spend part of each day chewing their cud. Giraffes prefer to eat Acacia, Commiphora, Combretum and open Terminalia woodlands over denser environments like Brachystegia woodlands. The giraffe is a herbivorous browser, meaning it consumes bushy and woody plants. Giraffes are herbivores and only eat plants, leaves, and twigs. They do, however, eat some grass. But they don't eat leaves from pine trees or oak trees. They will consume the leaves and twigs of... Grass. They mostly like those from the acacia, wild apricot, and mimosa... See full answer below. There are over 1,300 species of acacia trees and they grow abundantly on the African plains. Giraffes eat trees from three main families: Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia. Giraffe food preferences change according to seasons: in the dry season, they seem to be fine with pine-like needles. The giraffe goes through the chewing, swallowing, and regurgitating process several times. Create your account. Giraffes have a fondness for the tree that is unrivalled by any other, and this fondness results in a fascinating ‘to and fro’ relationship between fauna and flora. The reticulated giraffes feed on seed pods, leaves, and fruits of their favorite trees, which include acacia, wild apricot, and mimosa. Still, their diet does extend well beyond the more commonly eaten plants just mentioned. In the wild, giraffes primarily eat the leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees (also various trees and shrubs in the genera Commiphora and Terminalia). Baobab trees can grow so large that people sometimes take shelter by their trunks. The most important food for this animal is the acacia tree. It chews food partially, swallows it, and then regurgitates it back into its mouth for further chewing. What is the closest living relative of the... How many cervical vertebrae does a giraffe... Giraffa is a taxon at which level? In the wild, giraffes primarily eat the leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees (also various trees and shrubs in the genera Commiphora and Terminalia). Giraffes often adapt their diet to the type of food available in the habitat they find themselves. Services, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. But in the dry season, they feed on evergreen species near streams and rivers. It also feeds on the leaves, fruits and shoots of apricot trees. They even eat some fruit. The giraffe is a hefty eater. The most important food for this animal is the acacia tree. All rights reserved. Fruits. Termites and other wood-feeding insects, beavers, giraffes, elephants, rabbits, rodents and porcupines all eat trees, in whole or in part. The reticulated giraffe gets its name from the fact that its red coats are divided by reticulations of white lines, making its appearance somewhat different compared to the other types of giraffes. They can also be seen occasionally consuming fruits and grasses. COPYRIGHT © 2014 GiraffeFacts.org. All rights reserved. Giraffes can be found across the African Savannah where they primarily feast on the leaves of Acacia trees. Giraffes prefer to eat new shoots and leaves, mainly from the thorny acacia tree. They are herbivores that eat only leaves. Giraffes fe… Since giraffes are basically herbivores, they feed on a variety of shrubs, flowers, leaves, twigs, even in spite of thorns present. Giraffes can eat grass but prefer not to do so too often because it is hard for them to reach ground level. What Do Giraffes Eat? The most iconic tree in a giraffe’s diet is the acacia tree. Their tongue is also very tough to withstand thorns that may be on the plants they are eating. Types of Food. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. Giraffes can eat as much as 29 kilograms of acacia leaves and twigs daily. Their most prefered food are the leafs of the Acacia Erioloba (or … They forage from trees, bushes and shrubs, and occasionally dine on grass. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal What do giraffes […] They even eat some fruit. They mostly like those from the acacia, wild apricot, and mimosa... Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. This answers the question, what do giraffes eat. Beside above, what does the giraffe like to eat? They prefer to feed on tender leaves and some buds but will also eat flowers and other fruits in season. An adult giraffe can consume about 140 pounds of foliage each day. A typical giraffe diet consists of mostly leaves. These animals are recognized for their lengthy necks , two horn-like structures on the top of their heads called ossicones , and a speckling of uniquely patterned spots over the majority of their bodies. The beautiful acacia tree at dusk. Whenever someone sees one of the tallest animals in the world stride by, either in the wild or in the zoo, the thought must have crossed their mind – what do giraffes eat? In arid grasslands, the giraffes there eat Acacia le… When seasons are wet, food sources are … Their long neck and very long tongue is useful in picking the best twigs and leaves of very tall tress. This means a giraffe gets an average of two hours of sleep each day. Spending most of the day eating, giraffe consumes over 100 pounds (45 kilograms) predominantly feeding on the leaves and buds of trees and shrubs. answer! According to Giraffe Conservation Foundation, (GCF) the giraffe can adapt its diet depending on the plant or tree species available in each region. All giraffes are herbivores. Giraffes mostly focus on plants that they can easily reach. Trees of the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia are the primary food sources of these creatures, providing them with leaves, shoots, twigs, and barks. Giraffes are ruminants that eat plants and vegetables although the Acacia tree is one of their favorites. Prickly Pears: This plant is full of sharp spines of various sizes which makes it very difficult for … However, please remember that their diet is not limited to the previously mentioned types of food. During a dry season, they may eat hearty evergreens next to rivers and streams. A giraffe can drink between 10 and 12 gallons of water at a single time, too. In order to keep up with this diet, this animal spends between 15 and 20 hours each day foraging for food and consuming it. Giraffes eat buds and leaves from vegetation. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. And they also show individual food preferences. In the book Padre from the Monastery to the Forest: A Memoir of My Life Journey in a War-Torn Eritrea and My Immigrant Life in the USA, Hiabu H. Hassebu tells the story of that miracle: "Two Italian soldiers, to avoid being targeted by a British jet fighter, hid themselves under a Baobab tree. They are an endangered species. The giraffe is an animal herbivore and mainly feeds on the leaves of trees. He eats a lot and can eat up to 30 kilograms of food a day. a) family ... 1. the habitat, niche, ecosystem, and biome it... CSET Science Subtest II Life Sciences (217): Practice & Study Guide, UExcel Anatomy & Physiology: Study Guide & Test Prep, Human Anatomy & Physiology: Help and Review, UExcel Basic Genetics: Study Guide & Test Prep, Ohio State Test - Science Grade 8: Practice & Study Guide, ICAS English - Paper E: Test Prep & Practice, ISEB Common Entrance Exam at 13+ Geography: Study Guide & Test Prep, Biological and Biomedical Still, their diet does extend well beyond the more commonly eaten plants just mentioned. It grinds up its food using the bottom teeth against the pad before swallowing. Leaves and twigs. They also adjust their diet as the seasons change. This animal has a very interesting way of eating. Reticulated giraffes are herbivorous and have been recorded to feed on more than 100 species of plants, with a staple of Acacia, Commiphora, and Terminalialeaves. The question about what giraffes eat is letter B or acacia tree leaves. However, grazing on the ground itself can be awkward. J & C Sohns/Picture Press/Getty Images. View this answer Giraffes use their height to gather food. Still, their diet does extend well beyond the more commonly eaten plants just mentioned. Mostly giraffes eat plants they can easily reach. Giraffe have been seen eating the carcass of an antelope and chewing on dried bones for their calcium content. When in their native habitat, giraffes eat many different kinds of leaves and twigs. Its other sources of food may be fruits, roots, seedpods, twigs and even dry and spiky thorns. What fruit do giraffes eat? Uniquely patterned gentle giants, giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. In the wild, giraffes primarily eat the leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees (also various trees and shrubs in the genera Commiphora and Terminalia). © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. For instance, in southern and eastern Africa, giraffes will eat deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines in wet seasons. However, this tree has nasty thorns that giraffes can handle with their thick protective saliva. Here are some interesting facts about giraffes! While leaves are preferred, a giraffe will browse on many other kinds of vegetation, especially in the dry season. Unlike elephants, however, these tall and large mammals do not end up … They are prodigious eaters, and a large male consumes about 65 kg (145 pounds) of food per day. The giraffe is a hefty eater. The leaves of the acacia tree are a particular favorite, and giraffes will sometimes eat grasses, fruits and vegetables. Apart from these, giraffes also eat grass and fruits. Giraffes love to eat twigs of plants and will also eat plant leaves. The acacia leaves provide most of the giraffe’s food. Is the giraffe native to the United States? Become a Study.com member to unlock this Wood-eating insects are able to devour thousands of trees and lumber a year, classifying them as some of the most serious and damaging wood consumers. 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