Tight skin of giraffe legs assists blood circulation by creating extravascular pressure.

“Its [giraffe’s] heart is two-and-a-half times as big as zoologists would expect for an animal of its size. And the skin around its legs is unusually tight. Pedley [Tim Pedley of the University of Cambridge] says that high blood pressure would encourage blood to pool in a giraffe’s legs. The tight skin acts like a support stocking, forcing blood back up into the body.” (Thomas 1997:24)

Last Updated August 18, 2016