 The giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis ) is an African even @-@ toed ungulate mammal , the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant . Its species name refers to its camel @-@ like shape and its leopard @-@ like colouring . Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs , its horn @-@ like ossicones , and its distinctive coat patterns . It is classified under the family Giraffidae , along with the Okapi .
 nobody knows for sure how many giraffes are left in the wild , but the total population is believed to be between 97,000 and 140,000 . The