Unless you visit Africa or stop by a zoo, chances are you won’t see many giraffes.

Among the tallest living animals, giraffes can reach heights of nearly 20 feet. Surprisingly, even a newborn giraffe (known as a calf) is about six feet tall!

Giraffes are commonly known for their spotted coats and long necks, which allow them to eat leaves in tall trees. In the wild, giraffes roam freely and typically live for about 25 years.

Of course, there is a great disparity (see definition below) between the giraffe and an extremely small animal, such as a hamster or a Chihuahua.

So, the next time you take a look at dog or a cat, you might remember that animals come in many shapes and sizes!

Want to know more about giraffes? Check the Kids’ Planet website at: www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/giraffe.html

Speak your mind: How do you think an animal’s size affects its ability to live a long life?

DISPARITY: Inequality, difference, lack of similarity.