Education:Science Projects: Giraffe Spit Experiment
Giraffes
have many incredible adaptations.
Some adaptations are behavioral: Giraffes drink water by gulping–drinking a lot of water quickly. They bend their long necks toward the water and gulp up the water before a leopard or hyena has a chance to attack them. Giraffes can drink up to 10 gallons (45 liters) of water in one drinking session.
Some adaptations are physical: Giraffes are the tallest land animals, with adult giraffes growing to be between 15 and 18 feet (4.6 to 5.4 meters) tall. Because of their great height and excellent eyesight, giraffes often become watch towers for other animals. The giraffes are able to see and alert the others of approaching trouble.
One
of the most interesting adaptations
of the giraffe is their ability to eat leaves from some very thorny
trees! Just how do they do it? Giraffes produce a very thick saliva,
or spit, which protects the mouth from their thorny diet.
Is this a physical or a behavioral adaptation?
Try making some giraffe spit to play with: NEVER DO A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION!
What you need
- 10 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
- yellow food coloring
- a leaf
- a bowl
What you do
1. Put the cornstarch into the bowl.
2. Add the water and stir. It will be difficult to stir. But keep going.
3. NOW add just a drop of yellow food coloring.
4. Add the leaf.
Now stand near a giraffe. When no one is looking put the giraffe spit you made on your hands and say GROSS!! The giraffe just SLIMED ME!!!
Catch Dr. Zoolittle in an entertaining show in the San Diego Zoo's Children's Zoo daily during the summer and every weekend and school holiday.
