Comparison Giraffe and Zebra

EAP1 Judith & fergus |

Compare and contrast between Giraffes and Zebras |

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gilmi

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Giraffes and zebras are wild animals. Both of them are found in the Central and South African Savannah and generally they live in wooded grassland areas. Giraffes are the tallest animal in the world and the name of giraffe comes from the Arab word ‘Xirapha’, which means ‘the one that walks very fast’ (Gupta 2012). Whereas zebras are part of the horse family, they are famous for their characteristic stripes which are black and white and the name of zebras comes from Latin’Equiferus’which means ‘wild horses’ (Wikipedia 2012). There are some similarities and differences between both animals, such as the appearances, habitat, diet, behaviour, reproduction and status of population.

Firstly, the giraffes and zebras are mammals; both of them have a tail and hooves. However, both animals also have some differences such as the giraffes have a long neck and the colours are scheme varies considerably in pattern, but consists of dark-reddish to chestnut brown blotches of various shapes and sizes on a buff ground colour. The averages height of giraffes is 18 feet or 5.3 metres and the average weight is 800 kg (Wildlife Picture Online 2012). Whereas, the zebras have white legs, some have brownish shadow stripes in between the black and white stripes; the average length of zebras is about 1.3 metres at the shoulder and the weight is up to 350 kg. They have a heavy head, stout body and stiff mane (Zebra 2004).

Secondly, giraffes and zebras are found in Africa and they are lived in variety of habitats such as in grassland, savannas, and open woodland. In addition, both of them are herbivorous animals; the primary food of giraffes is acacia leaves whereas zebras only eat plants. The zebras are not ruminants like giraffes; they eat a lot in order to get enough nutrition (Wikipedia 2012).

Moreover, both animals are social animals and most active in the early...