What is "giraffidae"

Giraffidae \Giraffidae\ prop. n. The natural family of mammals including the giraffes.

Syn: family Giraffidae.

Giraffidae is a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that shares a common ancestor with deer and bovids. This family, once a diverse group spread throughout Eurasia and Africa, presently comprises only two extant members, the giraffe (the only living species of Giraffa) and the okapi (the only known species of Okapia). Both are confined to Sub-Saharan Africa: the giraffe to the open savannas, and the okapi to the dense rainforest of the Congo. The two species look very different on first sight, but share a number of common features, including a long, dark-coloured tongue, lobed canine teeth, and horns covered in skin, called ossicones.