How much can an adult giraffe’s heart weigh?

An adult giraffe’s heart can weigh about 11 kilograms.

The heart is unusually powerful because it must pump blood up the giraffe’s long neck to reach the brain. A giraffe’s blood pressure is much higher than that of humans, helping maintain circulation despite the vertical distance between the heart and head.

Giraffes also have specialized blood vessels and valves in the neck. These structures help regulate blood flow when the animal lowers or raises its head. The rete mirabile, a network of blood vessels, helps protect the brain from sudden pressure changes.

The figure is an approximate adult value, not a fixed measurement for every giraffe. Heart size varies with age, sex, body size, and health. The giraffe’s neck is not supported by extra vertebrae: like most mammals, it has seven cervical vertebrae, each greatly elongated.