How long is the Giraffe’s tongue?

The Giraffe is easily the tallest of the mammals at 18 feet. Apart from its legs and neck another long feature of the giraffe is its tongue. When fully extended to pluck a distant leaf or twig, the Giraffe’s tongue is 17 inches long. The Giraffe feeds on the foliage of acacia trees on the savannahs of South Africa, and because it usually browses around the trees at a constant height, they often end up with an hour glass shape. The long neck is ideal for reaching up into trees but is not as convenient for drinking. The Giraffe has to splay its front legs or bend its knees in order to reach the ground to drink.