Daily Devotional – December 8

Biology

Giraffes have many unique features. They can tower up to 18 feet above the ground. Have you ever wondered how it keeps its 500 pound neck upright? The giraffe has a very long ligament called the nuchal ligament that runs from the back of the skull all the way down to the base of its tail. This ligament acts like a giant rubber band pulling the head and neck into its upright position.

Another unique feature is the design of the patches. Giraffes can become overheated in the African savannas. How do they regulate their temperature? Those irregular, brown patches help to regulate their temperature. Each patch has a large blood vessel around its border that branches off into smaller blood vessels into the patch. To release heat, a giraffe sends blood to the smaller branches in the middle of the patch - thereby radiating the heat away from its body. If the giraffe is too cold, the blood is not sent into these blood vessels.

Giraffes are uniquely designed animals that possess a myriad of specialized design features. It is easy to see the power and creativity of God when looking at a giraffe.

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

~ Job 21:22

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett