This here giraffe

July 30, 2007 7:21 AM

I love giraffes. Sure, some people think they're evil (previously on MeFi), but did you know that they have black tongues? Or that their scientific name hints that early viewers thought they resembled a camel/leopard mashup? That their closest living relative is the okapi? Did you know that they come with a special structure to prevent too much blood flow to the brain while drinking, and built-in pressure hose to protect the capillaries in their legs from their massive height and resulting blood pressure? This here giraffe is an amazing critter.
posted by fiercecupcake (34 comments total)

Jar-Jar Binks?
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:23 AM on July 30, 2007

Giraffes in the air!
posted by Wolfdog at 7:24 AM on July 30, 2007

"did you know that they have black tongues?"

Of course. Didn't you watch "Salute Your Shorts" growing up?
posted by Eideteker at 7:25 AM on July 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

(Also interesting: Giraffe Heroes. 'Cause they stick their necks out. Get it?)
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:26 AM on July 30, 2007

i kinda hate the term "mashup" and wish it would go away forever.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:42 AM on July 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

I love okapis. They're one of my favorite animals. Giraffes are pretty neat too, and quite interesting.
posted by cmgonzalez at 7:43 AM on July 30, 2007

Giraffes. Who couldn't appreciate those long necks? So slender.
posted by ND¢ at 7:50 AM on July 30, 2007

Thread deleted for the following reason: Giraffes pick their noses with their tongues [NSFW], so you should really post this to Projects.
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:51 AM on July 30, 2007

I blame Ford Prefect:
"I took up being cruel to animals," he said airily. "But only," he added, "as a hobby."
"Oh yes," said Arthur, warily.
"Yes," Ford assured him. "I won't disturb you with the details because they would – "
"What?"
"Disturb you. But you may be interested to know that I am singlehandedly responsible for the evolved shape of the animal you came to know in later centuries as a giraffe. And I tried to learn to fly. Do you believe me?"
posted by Grod at 7:54 AM on July 30, 2007

Another little known fact: giraffes are actually made of papier-mâché and fruit juice.
posted by herichon at 7:56 AM on July 30, 2007

"You can't leave that lying there!"
posted by Abiezer at 8:03 AM on July 30, 2007

Evil Giraffe:
"I will eat all the leaves on this tree. I will eat more leaves than I should. Then other giraffes may die! Ha ha ha!"
posted by papercake at 8:06 AM on July 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

When I was a toddler my favorite stuffed animal was a giraffe named "Hope"; I have been fascinated by them ever since. ABC correspondent Lynn Sherr also finds them interesting.
posted by TedW at 8:36 AM on July 30, 2007

If a giraffe could sing.
posted by misha at 8:40 AM on July 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

They have white tongues when I'm done with them.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:40 AM on July 30, 2007

Heh - interesting; I'd never actually thought about giraffes in any great detail, but thinking logically now, the specialised circulatory system is pretty sensible and impressive...
posted by Chunder at 8:42 AM on July 30, 2007

this here giraffe laughed
posted by noloveforned at 8:57 AM on July 30, 2007

I love feeding them... but the first time is a little alarming! The massive tongue is a little odd.
posted by chuckdarwin at 9:06 AM on July 30, 2007

Don't forget the Live Giraffe Cam, which consistently makes my workday just a little bit better.
posted by Sheppagus at 9:11 AM on July 30, 2007 [2 favorites]

I remember feeding Scooter Pies to giraffes in the zoo when I was a kid. It was my impression then that their tongues were not black, but rather a beautiful shade of lavender.
posted by MotherTucker at 9:17 AM on July 30, 2007

If Jesus had been a giraffe...
posted by squink at 9:18 AM on July 30, 2007

Cameleopard
Cameleopard
Cameleopard
mashup
mashup
mashup
posted by edgeways at 9:46 AM on July 30, 2007

but did you know that they have black tongues?

Yes. Yes I did. Note to MeFites: your girlfriend prefers giraffes.
posted by The Bellman at 10:10 AM on July 30, 2007

Giraffes are very discreet.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 10:52 AM on July 30, 2007

Easily my favourite animal. Elegant and just plain cool looking.
posted by davebush at 12:08 PM on July 30, 2007

I suppose they have black tongues because they stick them out so much they'd get sunburned if they were pink.

I wonder if they are black in the tropics, but turn lavender if they are out of the sun or in a higher latitude.

(Can human beings get a tan on their tongues?)
posted by jamjam at 1:12 PM on July 30, 2007

One of the giraffes at our local zoo just had a baby. Baby giraffes are awesome.
posted by shelleycat at 2:57 PM on July 30, 2007

The zoo in shelleycat's link is asking for help in naming the giraffe calf.* I propose Charisse.
*And "giraffe calf" sounds like a Starbucks order.
posted by rob511 at 5:07 PM on July 30, 2007

My partner is the giraffe keeper at Wellington Zoo, and 'her' giraffes don't have black tongues.
posted by X-00 at 6:24 PM on July 30, 2007

Zarafa is an interesting story.
posted by tellurian at 8:07 PM on July 30, 2007

heh, just talked to the wife, she made an animated dancing giraffe today as part of a dream sequence in an animated video she's doing.
posted by edgeways at 9:32 PM on July 30, 2007

There was this wonderful American poet, I forget his name now, but he wrote something along the lines of...

"The f's in giraffe are two giraffes running through the word giraffe."
posted by Sully at 10:41 PM on July 30, 2007 [2 favorites]

Ah. I gotta luv ya for tying in the Flaming Lips to a post about Giraffes!
posted by weathermachine at 12:40 PM on July 31, 2007

Big blue tongue, with a
psychedelic crazy skin,
What is this creature?

Their definition,
The 'one who walks swiftly' is,
undoubtedly true.

Awake or asleep,
Their heads are among the birds,
And they stand on stilts.

Run to keep up as,
Each step, fifteen feet forwards,
Strides like a giant!
posted by fuckyouhaiku at 12:09 PM on August 17, 2007 [1 favorite]