Girafarig are Pokémon that possess several unusual features. Their front halves are yellow with black spots while their back halves are black with yellow spots. In the front they have a long neck used for browsing (though not quite as long as their real-world counterparts), with pink spikes running down the back. The most unusual feature is its tail end, which possesses a head of its own. However, this head is incapable of independent thinking but relies on outside stimuli such as smell to guide its actions. The tail often mimics the head during feeding and is able to warn the Pokémon of danger if it is sleeping.
Gender differences
The darker section of a female Girafarig is smaller than a male's, and only contains one yellow spot.
The rear head attacks in response to smells and sounds. Approaching this Pokémon from behind can cause the rear head to suddenly lash out and bite. While Girafarig sleeps, the head on its rear keeps watch, as it does not need to sleep. While Girafarig is eating, its tail makes chewing and swallowing motions as if it were also eating.
Girafarig's rear head also has a brain, but it is small. The rear head attacks in response to smells and sounds. Approaching this Pokémon from behind can cause the rear head to suddenly lash out and bite.
Girafarig's rear head contains a tiny brain that is too small for thinking. However, the rear head doesn't need to sleep, so it can keep watch over its surroundings 24 hours a day.
A Girafarig is an herbivore--it eats grass and tree shoots. While it is eating, its tail makes chewing and swallowing motions as if it were also eating.
The original design of Girafarig had a full-sized second head, reflecting its palindromic name, and rather resembling a pushmi-pullyu.
Girafarig's name in English is a palindrome, as are Eevee, Ho-Oh and Alomomola. Kirinriki, Girafarig's Japanese name, is also a palindrome when written in katakana.
Since its debut in Generation II, Girafarig has been featured in all regional Pokédexes.
However, back in Generation I, all Psychic Pokémon were immune to Ghost (Although multiple sources said otherwise). As of Generation II, the Psychic-type is weak to the Ghost-type.
Despite many of Girafarig's Pokédex entries describing its small head's tendency to bite, Girafarig cannot learn Bite. However, it does learn Crunch.
Origin
Girafarig is based on both the okapi and the giraffe. It is also likely to be based upon a Chimera, a mythical creature with mixed animal characteristics.
Name origin
Girafarig is based firstly on a giraffe and its name is a palindrome like its Japanese name, Kirinriki. In modern Japanese, 麒麟 kirin simply means giraffe, but it is also the Japanese name of Qílín, the Chinese unicorn. The Qilin was feared by criminals as it was able to detect guilt. After sensing the guilt, the Qilin would stare at the guilty party and pierce its heart.
Chinese (Taiwan): 麒麟奇 Qí Lín Qí - 麒麟 is a Chinese unicorn. 奇 means strange/weird, rare or wonderful. Though it is not exactly a palindrome, the name will sound the same when the characters are read in reverse.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.