世界上最高的动物

饭团

想必大家对长颈鹿并不陌生，长长的脖子，长长的腿，它们是现存世界上最高的陆生动物。那长颈鹿是怎样吃饭、喝水、睡觉的呢？一起在文章中找找答案吧！

At an average height of around 5m，the giraffe is the tallest land animal in theworld. Characterized by its long legs，long neck，and distinctive spotted pattern，many people first believed the giraffe was a cross between a leopard and a camel，which is reflected in its scientific name，Giraffa camelopardealis.

Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Theirextreme height allows them to eat leaves and shoots located much higher than other animals can reach.Spending most of the day eating，a full-grown giraffe

consumes over 45 kg of leaves and twigs a day.The giraffe's "stature can be a disadvantage as well-it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes onlyneed to drink once every several days. They get most of their water from the 2）luscious plants they eat.

The male giraffe is both taller and heavier than the female. Female giraffes can becomepregnant at 5 years old. They carry a baby for 15 months and give birth while standing up. So the baby giraffes with about a height of 2m tall and a weight of 70kg fall more than 5 feet（152.4cm）to the ground at birth. Calves may grow 1 inch（2.54cm）everyday.

Giraffes sleep less than two hours a day. In general，they sleep with their feet tucked under them and their head resting on their 3）hindquarters，but they can also sleep for short periods of time standing up.

Giraffes can live up to 25 years in the wild. But they are classified by IUCN RedList as 4）vulnerable of extinction. Giraffes face several threats，including loss ofhabitat due to logging for firewood.They are also hunted for their meat，hides，and tails.

1）stature [‘staetfe]n.身材，身高，高度

2）luscious ['NJes] adj.甘美的，美味的

3）hindquarter ['haind，kwo：te] n.后腿，臀部

4）vulnerable ['vAInarabl] adj.易受傷害的，脆弱的

长颈鹿平均身高约5米，是世界上最高的陆生动物。因其长腿、长颈和独特的斑点图案，许多人认为长颈鹿是豹和骆驼的杂交种，这在其学名（拉丁文意为“长着豹纹的骆驼”）中得到了体现。

长颈鹿主要生活在非洲撒哈拉以南的稀树草原地区。它们的极端高度使它们能够吃到比其他动物能达到的高度更高的叶子和嫩枝。长颈鹿一天大部分时间都是在吃，一只成年的长颈鹿一天要消耗45公斤的叶子和树枝。长颈鹿的高度也有不利之处。它们在水坑旁喝水时很困难同时也很危险。要喝到水，它们必须伸展双腿，弯下身体，这别扭的姿势同时使它们容易受到像非洲大猫这样的捕食者的攻击。长颈鹿只需要每隔几天喝一.次水，它们可以从吃的甘美植物中获取所需的大部分水分。

雄性长颈鹿比雌性长颈鹿更高更重。雌性长颈鹿在5岁时就可以怀孕，孕期15个月，站着生孩子。因此，身高约2米、体重70公斤的小长颈鹿是从高处掉下地面出生，降落高度超过5英尺（152.4厘米）。小长颈鹿每天可以长1英寸（2.54厘米）。

长颈鹿每天睡眠时间不足两小时。一般来说，它们睡觉时把脚夹在下面，头枕在后腿上，但它们也可以站起来短时间睡觉。

长颈鹿在野外可以活到25岁。但它们是被世界自然保护联盟濒危物种红色名录列为濒临灭绝的动物。长颈鹿面临着多种威胁，包括因伐木而丧失栖息地。它们也常被猎杀，以获取可食用的肉、皮毛和尾巴。