Named for its net-like pattern, the reticulated giraffe has large, polygonal liver-colored patches separated by bright white lines. This pattern extends down the legs and even onto the face Among the tallest land animals, males can reach up to 18 feet (5.5 m) and weigh around 4,200 pounds (1,900 kg). Females are slightly smaller. Their 18-inch (46 cm) long prehensile tongue helps them strip leaves from thorny branches, especially acacias. Despite their long necks, giraffes have only seven vertebrae, just like humans. You can find them primarily in the hot savannas of northern and northeastern Kenya, with smaller populations in southern Somalia and Ethiopia. With only around 8,500 individuals in the wild, they face threats from habitat loss and poaching