The scientific name for a giraffe is giraffa camelopardalis.
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| By Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa (Awkward giraffe Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
An old name for the giraffe is “camelopard." It seems ancient Greeks and Romans thought it was it was some sort of cross between a camel and a leopard. You know, because of the spots. You can read more about it at omg-facts.com, if you're interested.
Here ya go, this picture shows the resemblance a little better:
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| Image from http://www.omg-facts.com/Animals/Ancient-Romans-And-Greeks-Thought-That-T/36596 |
*backs away from screen* *tilts head* *squints* ...Yeah, I can see how those wacky ancient folks might've assumed some fast-talking badass leopard got it on with gullible camel. (Though, when you think of the logistics...nah, let's not go there.) I mean, these are the people who came up with the Minotaur--I don't guess they'd have a problem with a camelopard.
And with that bit of relatively useless trivia, I'll leave you. I need to don this...
...and then do it. (Heh-heh. I said "do it.")
But first, tell me, did you already know that about giraffes?
Do you have any Fun Factoids you'd like to share? (The weirder the better, of course, but weirdness isn't a requirement.)
*Well, I think it's fun, anyway. Your mileage may vary.
13 comments:
GIRAFFES ARE EVIL AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
*Ahem*
Hi Linda. Happy Hump Day! :)
Giraffe knees look like camel knees. And that giraffe looks like he's doing the Hokey Pokey - 'put your left hoof in...'
i just spent an inordinate amount of time trying to think of a fun fact. i've got nothing for you. perhaps THIS is why i'm so bad at trivia games...in other news, thanks for sharing the camel leopard bit. now i can pull that one out and parade it around at my next party.
My fun factoid of choice used to be that the little plastic thingie at the end of your shoe lace is called an aglet. Then Phineas and Ferb stole it and now I'm dry.
Nice cameleopard.
I did actually know that, but I like the freaky-deaky Photoshop of the leopard!
My fun factoid: Giraffes have special valves in their neck veins so all the blood doesn't rush to their heads and make them pass out when they bend down to eat something. Seems like there's a practical application for that elsewhere, but I'm too polite to mention it. ;-)
A camel and a leopard, huh? Well, I suppose stranger things have happened. Like a Great Dane and a chihuahua. The chihuahuas are usually the horny little males in that coupling, of course. The offspring are called chee-danishes. Very sweet.
A cameleopard, really?
'Cause giraffes are so leopard alike.
I didn't know that, but did you know that Shakespeare coined the term alligator? I was astonished. I mean, what did they call that thing before Shakespeare came along and named it?
Turns out, Shakespeare got the word from schlepping together the Spanish name for the beast: el lagarto.
Definitely not fond of the camel leopards. Odd since I like camels and leopards and giraffes.
Did not know that, but I can totally see how they got the name. :)
Yeah, I need that shirt too.
I NEED that T-shirt!!!!!
I did know about the camel-leopard,but only because I heard it on the panel show QI a couple of weeks ago
I don't have any factoids. But I totally need that shirt!! Love it!!
Have a great week, my friend. :)
The Tee looks great but the spotty giraffe doesn't!
All the best!
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