Girafarig are hoofed, quadruped 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 with pink spikes running down the back. Its tail end 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.
Special abilities
If the tail smells something alluring, it will bite it. It has a small brain of its own.
Behavior
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 live in wide-open plains and at the bottom of mountains. They are common in parts of Johto, but can also be seen in Sinnoh. They have also been imported to the Hoenn Safari Zone.
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.
An early 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.
Girafarig's small second brain is likely based on the stegosaurus, an herbivorous dinosaur which is believed by some paleontologists to have possessed a second brain in its tail, improving its reflexes against predators.
Name origin
Girafarig is a palindrome based on giraffe, based on its two-headed and reverse appearance.
Kirinriki is a palindrome of 麒麟 kirin (giraffe). Kirin is also the name of the 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.
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.