Giraffes and the Jugular Vein

The jugular vein that runs the length of the giraffe's neck is an extremely important part of them being able to drink water. This vein has a number of valves that reduce the amount of backflow of blood from the giraffe's head.

This is important because if this vein did not have the valves, the giraffes would blackout each time that they took a drink. If you stand on your head or hang upside-down too long, you can begin to feel the blood that rushes into your head. This is kind of the same thing that happens to giraffes, only it has a major effect on these animals.

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The Symbiotic Relationship of Giraffes

If you have ever seen videos or pictures of giraffes that are out in the wild, you may notice that a lot of them seem to have birds as companions. These birds are known as oxpeckers or tick birds. These birds and the giraffes have a kind of symbiotic relationship. The tick birds eat the ticks and mites that could get onto the giraffe. If these parasites are allowed to stay there, then the giraffe can become really sick. However, tick birds are able to take care of this job because they eat the ticks and mites that can be found on the giraffe's skin.

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The Symbiotic Relationship of Giraffes

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Symbiotic Relationship,

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How Much Water Giraffes Drink

Giraffes have to be careful when they are drinking. These animals are most prone to being attacked by their predators while they are drinking. This is because they have to stand in an extremely awkward position in order for them to be able to reach the water. The giraffes can get a lot of the water that they need from the leaves that they eat; however, this does not take care of all of the water that they need. Typically, giraffes can drink about 10 gallons of water each day. Normally, they will get water from the rivers and seas that are around them.

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Emu

The emu is a flightless bird that is rather large in stature. It is considered to be the second largest bird in the world. Emus can only be found on the continent of Australia. These birds have soft feathers that are light brown in color. They have long necks, dark colored beaks, and two incredibly strong legs. Emus are omnivores, and they will eat whatever they can find. These birds have been known to eat stones and tin cans accidentally along with the insects, leaves, and other items that they eat. The female emu will lay eggs in a nest that the male has made.           

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Giant Tarantula Interesting Animal Facts

 

Tarantulas are an interesting arachnid in the animal kingdom. These are one of the largest spiders that exist in the world, and they are found in a variety of different places. Depending on the area that you are in, you will find different species of tarantulas. These animals are carnivores, and they typically eat other bugs and spiders as a part of their diet. In the wild, tarantulas can live up to 30 years. As for their size, this varies between the different species. However, some of the largest ones can have a leg span up to 11 inches in length.

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Wombat

The wombat is a medium sized marsupial that walks on all fours. These mammals live in grassy areas, and are known for burrowing. Wombats are considered to be the largest burrowing animal, and they can make burrows that extend for over 650 feet. When it comes to being safe from predators, the wombat will make smaller burrows that will extend only 7 feet. This is just enough for the wombat to have a place to hop into if they sense that there is danger in the area. Wombats have a number of characteristics that allow them to easily burrow under the ground such as sharp claws and compact bodies.

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Wombat,

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Yak

 The yak is a member of the bovine family, and has long, shaggy fur. Yaks can be found in some areas of Asia, Mongolia, and Russia. These animals have been widely domesticated; however, there is still a small population of yaks that are wild. Yaks live in herds that consist anywhere from 10 to 100 of these animals. The yak is an herbivore, and mainly eats grasses while it grazes. In the wild, these animals can live between 15 to 20 years. These bovines can weigh from 650 to 2,200 pounds. Since yaks are so large, people have domesticated them to help them in their daily tasks. These animals are used to pull heavy machinery and move large loads of supplies through the mountains of Asia.

The female yak begins to produce yak milk after she has given birth to her first calf. The milk that comes from a female yak has an extremely high fat content; therefore, it is used as an ingredient to make butter, yogurt, and cheese.

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Yak,

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