书城外语课外英语-动物亮丽风景线(双语版)
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第30章 长颈鹿

长颈鹿是陆地上最高的动物。雌雄都有外包皮肤和茸毛的小角。眼大而突出,位于头顶上,适宜远望。遍体具棕黄色网状斑纹。

长颈鹿的长脖子在物种进化的过程中独树一帜,这样它们在非洲大草原上,就可以吃到其他动物无法吃到的、在较高地方的新鲜嫩树叶与树芽。但长颈鹿和其它动物的脖子椎骨同样只有7块,只是它们的椎骨较长。

由于它们要时常咀嚼从树上摘下的树叶,这就使得它们的下颚肌肉不停地运动,而脸部缺少运动,生长缓慢,所以我们可以看到长颈鹿总是一副僵硬的表情。

长颈鹿的长舌是雪青色的,但从不发出声音。因为它们没有声带。

它们主要生活在稀树草原和森林边缘地带,主要分布于非洲撒哈拉沙漠以南地区。通常一只雌性长颈鹿怀孕14-15个月才生产,一般一胎一只,很少有两只。生产时母长颈鹿保持站立的姿势。新生的小长颈鹿约有1.9米高,100公斤重。

Imagine being tall enough to see over rooftops.Giraffes are that tall.They are the tallest animals in the world.What makes a giraffe so tall is its long neck.A big male giraffe stands almost 20feet (6meters)high.That is about as tall as a two story building.

Giraffes live in Africa,on plains called savannas.They live in places where there are trees with leaves that they can eat.

Giraffes are the tallest land animals,with some growing as tall as 20feet,or 6meters.Most four legged animals walk by moving their forward legs first and then their back legs.But giraffes walk by moving both legs on one side before moving the other two forward.This creates a sideways rocking motion that is balanced out by the giraffe’s long neck.

Young giraffes are called calves.Here,a mother giraffe nurses her calf.

To drink from a watering hole,a giraffe must spread its front legs into an awkward position

Because a female giraffe gives birth standing up,the baby giraffe drops to the ground.But it is often on its feet within 20minutes

What Do Giraffes Look Like?