Giraffe fact-file The word "giraffe" comes from an Arabic word, "zirafah", which means "the tallest of all". A giraffe's tongue is 18 inches long. Giraffes have only seven vertebrae in their neck, the same number as humans. The giraffe has an extra-large heart to pump all the blood uphill to its head! As a result, it has the highest blood pressure of any animal.
When giraffes were first brought to Rome in 46BC, they were thought to be as big as a camel, with spots like a leopard. Although we've long since known the giraffe is not a combination of these animals, the name scientific name camelopardalis stuck.
A powerful kick from a giraffe can kill a lion. Male and female giraffes are called 'bulls' and 'cows'. Babies are called 'calves'. Ahhhhh. Giraffes have only one living relative - the okapi. They have a much shorter neck and black-and-white stripey hindquarters.
Lemur fact-file Lemurs are primates - like monkeys, apes and humans. Lemur means "ghost" in Malagasay - some people in Madagascar believe lemurs are ghost or soul of a dead relative. | 
