The Ultimate Giraffe Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Ultimate Giraffe Quiz
Image: Minden Pictures/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The giraffe is the tallest living animal and inhabits areas south of the Sahara. Take this quiz to learn more about these graceful, gentle creatures.
How many species of giraffe are there?
one
five
twelve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is just one, but there are eight different groups.

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Where do giraffes live?
South America
Asia
Africa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They live only in Africa, south of the Sahara.

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What kind of terrain do giraffes prefer?
rocky slopes
open grassy plains
dense forests
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They live in open grassy plains with scattered trees and shrubs.

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Why do they prefer this kind of terrain?
The leaves of scattered trees are more succulent than those of forest trees.
The giraffe needs the prolonged exposure to sunlight.
The many trees in a forest would slow them down.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Giraffes need the wide open spaces to be able to outrun their predator, the lion.

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To what height do male giraffes grow?
15 feet (4.6 m)
18 feet (5.5 m)
21 feet (6.4 m)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They grow to about 18 feet (5.5 m).

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How tall are female giraffes?
12 feet (3.7 m)
15 feet (4.6 m)
18 feet (5.5 m)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The female grows to about 15 feet (4.6 m).

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What does an adult male giraffe weigh?
1,800 pounds (818 kg)
2,200 pounds (1,000 kg)
2,600 pounds (1,182 kg)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The adult male weighs around 2,600 pounds (1,182 kg).

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How long is the giraffe's neck?
seven feet (2.1 m)
eight feet (2.4 m)
nine feet (2.7 m)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The neck is up to seven feet (2.1 m) long.

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How many vertebrae in the giraffe's neck?
eleven
nine
seven
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The neck consists of seven elongated vertebrae.

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Which of the giraffes has horns?
only Masai male giraffes
both sexes
certain types of adult Transvaal giraffe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Both sexes have short horns.

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With such a long neck and long legs, how does the giraffe drink water?
spreads its front legs
kneels
neck is long enough
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The giraffe spreads its forelegs to reach the water.

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Just how long is the giraffe's tongue?
15 inches (38 cm)
18 inches (45 cm)
21 inches (53 cm)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The tongue is about 21 inches (53 cm) long.

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What differentiates giraffes from other mammals?
young can stand within 20 minutes of birth
body temperature is not constant
their stomachs have five chambers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Their body temperature is not constant but rises during the heat of the day.

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How long after mating does the female give birth?
450 days
380 days
300 days
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They give birth about 450 days after mating.

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How many different groups of patterns do giraffes' coats have?
Eight, representing the eight types of giraffes.
It is estimated there are about 70 patterns.
All patterns are different.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Actually the patterns are all unique, similar to a fingerprint.

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At what speed can giraffes run?
24 miles per hour (38 km/h)
29 miles per hour (47 km/h)
35 miles per hour (56 km/h)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They can reach 29 miles per hour (47 km/h) and escape most predators.

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What are the social habits of giraffes?
They live in herds.
Except for mating season they are usually alone.
They only group together when danger is present.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They live in herds of 12 to 15 led by an adult male.

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What is the life expectancy of a giraffe?
12 to 15 years
15 to 20 years
20 to 25 years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A giraffe's lifespan is about 15 to 20 years.

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Until what age does a calf drink its mother's milk?
six or seven months
eight months
nine or 10 months
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It feeds on its mother's milk for nine or 10 months

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What does a calf weigh at birth?
150 pounds (68 kilograms)
120 pounds (55 kilograms)
90 pounds (41 kilograms)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The calf weighs about 150 pounds (68 kilograms).

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You Got:
/20
Minden Pictures/Getty Images