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The Giraffidae are a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a recent common ancestor with deer and bovids.This family, once a diverse group spread throughout Eurasia and Africa, presently comprises only two extant genera, the giraffe (between one and eight, usually four, species of Giraffa, depending on taxonomic interpretation) and the okapi (the only known species of Okapia).
Giraffoidea is a superfamily that includes the families Climacoceratidae, Prolibytheriidae, and Giraffidae. The only extant members in the superfamily are the giraffes and okapi . The Climacoceratidae are also placed in the superfamily, but were originally placed within the family Palaeomerycidae .
Sivatheriinae is an extinct subfamily of giraffids characterized by their robust size, short limbs, and the presence of large complicated ossicones in males. [2] These animals lived in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe from the late Miocene and early Pleistocene.
Giraffomorpha is a clade of pecoran ruminants containing the superfamilies Palaeomerycoidea (Palaeomerycidae) and Giraffoidea (Giraffidae, Prolibytheriidae and Climacoceratidae), of which the giraffe and okapi of the Giraffidae are the only extant members of the once-diverse clade as a result of a decline in diversity after the Miocene as a result of declines in temperatures.
The family Giraffidae was once much more extensive, with over 10 fossil genera described. [6] The elongation of the neck appears to have started early in the giraffe lineage. Comparisons between giraffes and their ancient relatives suggest vertebrae close to the skull lengthened earlier, followed by lengthening of vertebrae further down. [8]
Lyra (meaning "harp") is an extinct genus of giraffid artiodactyl ungulates from the Miocene Chinji Formation of Pakistan. The genus contains a single species, L. sherkana, known from a partial skull and fragmentary ossicones.
The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae. The okapi stands about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall at the shoulder and has a typical body length around 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in). Its weight ranges from 200 to 350 kg (440 to 770 lb). It has a long neck, and large, flexible ears.
Bohlinia is an extinct genus of the artiodactyl family Giraffidae that lived during the Late Miocene in Eurasia and Africa. [2] It was first named by the paleontologist Dr. W. Matthew in 1929, and contains two species, B. adoumi and B. attica.