Giraffes by Louis Sargent, Vintage African Animals Poster

Vintage illustration wild animals mammals design featuring giraffes drinking from a watering hole in an African jungle. Louis Sargent illustrator, from "My First Book of Animals" by Lena Dalkeith, c. 1918. The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) lives in Africa and is the tallest living terrestrial animal. Its species name (camelopardalis) refers to its camel-like shape and its leopard-like coloring. A giraffe has only two gaits, galloping or walking. Walking is done by moving the legs on one side of the body at the same time, then doing the same on the other side. When the giraffe is galloping, the hind legs move around the front legs before the latter move forward. Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs, grasslands and open woodlands.