Until recently, it was believed that there were no (sub)species of giraffes. Currently, there are nine recognized subspecies.
The Angolan giraffe (or the Smokey giraffe) is relatively light in colour (hence the name 'Smokey') with large uneven, notched, spots covering the entire leg. The Angolan giraffe is no longer found in Angola, but in Namibia, south-western Zambia, Botswana and western Zimbabwe.
The Kordofan giraffes' spots are pale and irregular with a covering that includes their inner legs. The Kordofan giraffe ranges in southern Chad, the Central African Republic, northern Cameroon and northern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Nubian giraffe has large, normally 4 sided, chestnut brown spots set against a slightly off-white background. It has no markings on the inside of its legs or at all below the hocks (knees). There are no Nubian giraffes in captivity and their numbers are estimated at less than 250 individuals. The Nubians giraffes range in western Ethiopia and eastern Sudan.
The South African giraffe (or Cape giraffe) has a pattern that extends all the way down the leg and is made up of blotchy, star shaped spots set against a more tan-coloured than cream or white background. The South African giraffe ranges east to west through northern South Africa, southern Botswana and southern Zimbabwe, with current efforts underway to also re-introduce them back into Mozambique. There are concerns that re-introductions of South African giraffe and Angolan giraffe into the same populations have likely resulted in hybrid populations. There are less than 12,000 left in the wild and according to ISIS only approximately 45 individuals in zoos.
The West African giraffe (or Nigerian giraffe) is strikingly light in appearance with tan coloured, rectangular spots set amongst thick creamy lines. They live in an isolated pocket of fewer than 250 individuals just east of Niger’s capital city Niamey. They are protected by the Niger government and are possibly the world’s rarest giraffe (sub)species.
The Reticulated giraffe (also called the Somali giraffe or Netted giraffe) has browny-orange coat patches clearly defined by a network of thick and often extremely white lines. Reticulated giraffes are one of the more common captive giraffes with approximately 450 kept in zoos across the world.
The Rothschild’s giraffe (sometimes called the Baringo or Ugandan giraffe) has large, dark rectangular shaped spots or blotches set irregularly against a cream coloured background, though the legs are noticeably white and are not patterned. With fewer than 670 individuals remaining in the wild, in 2010 the Rothschild’s giraffe was listed on the IUCN Red List as ‘endangered’ and of high conservation importance. The Rothschild's giraffes range through Uganda and west-central and central Kenya, and possibly into southern Sudan.
The Thornicroft’s giraffe (rarely referred to as the Rhodesian giraffe) has large dark, ragged leaf shaped spots that continue down the length of the leg, set against a cream coloured background. They survive as an entirely isolated population restricted to eastern Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley. Estimates indicate there are fewer than 1,500 remaining in this isolated pocket, and according to ISIS there are none kept in captivity.
The Masai giraffe (occasionally known as the Kilimanjaro giraffe) is noticeably darker than the other male (sub)species of giraffes. It has large, distinctive, dark brown, vine-leaf shaped, jagged spots interspersed by creamy-brown irregular lines. The Masai ranges across central and southern Kenya and south into Tanzania, with populations also translocated into Rwanda. This may be the most populous of the (sub)species with an estimated fewer than 40,000 remaining in the wild, (though recent reports of significant poaching would suggest it likely to be significantly less). ISIS records indicate approximately 100 individuals kept in zoos.
This article was modififed from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Read the original article here.
Here are some cool infographics to aid you in your giraffe learning!
The Angolan giraffe (or the Smokey giraffe) is relatively light in colour (hence the name 'Smokey') with large uneven, notched, spots covering the entire leg. The Angolan giraffe is no longer found in Angola, but in Namibia, south-western Zambia, Botswana and western Zimbabwe.
The Kordofan giraffes' spots are pale and irregular with a covering that includes their inner legs. The Kordofan giraffe ranges in southern Chad, the Central African Republic, northern Cameroon and northern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Nubian giraffe has large, normally 4 sided, chestnut brown spots set against a slightly off-white background. It has no markings on the inside of its legs or at all below the hocks (knees). There are no Nubian giraffes in captivity and their numbers are estimated at less than 250 individuals. The Nubians giraffes range in western Ethiopia and eastern Sudan.
The South African giraffe (or Cape giraffe) has a pattern that extends all the way down the leg and is made up of blotchy, star shaped spots set against a more tan-coloured than cream or white background. The South African giraffe ranges east to west through northern South Africa, southern Botswana and southern Zimbabwe, with current efforts underway to also re-introduce them back into Mozambique. There are concerns that re-introductions of South African giraffe and Angolan giraffe into the same populations have likely resulted in hybrid populations. There are less than 12,000 left in the wild and according to ISIS only approximately 45 individuals in zoos.
The West African giraffe (or Nigerian giraffe) is strikingly light in appearance with tan coloured, rectangular spots set amongst thick creamy lines. They live in an isolated pocket of fewer than 250 individuals just east of Niger’s capital city Niamey. They are protected by the Niger government and are possibly the world’s rarest giraffe (sub)species.
The Reticulated giraffe (also called the Somali giraffe or Netted giraffe) has browny-orange coat patches clearly defined by a network of thick and often extremely white lines. Reticulated giraffes are one of the more common captive giraffes with approximately 450 kept in zoos across the world.
The Rothschild’s giraffe (sometimes called the Baringo or Ugandan giraffe) has large, dark rectangular shaped spots or blotches set irregularly against a cream coloured background, though the legs are noticeably white and are not patterned. With fewer than 670 individuals remaining in the wild, in 2010 the Rothschild’s giraffe was listed on the IUCN Red List as ‘endangered’ and of high conservation importance. The Rothschild's giraffes range through Uganda and west-central and central Kenya, and possibly into southern Sudan.
The Thornicroft’s giraffe (rarely referred to as the Rhodesian giraffe) has large dark, ragged leaf shaped spots that continue down the length of the leg, set against a cream coloured background. They survive as an entirely isolated population restricted to eastern Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley. Estimates indicate there are fewer than 1,500 remaining in this isolated pocket, and according to ISIS there are none kept in captivity.
The Masai giraffe (occasionally known as the Kilimanjaro giraffe) is noticeably darker than the other male (sub)species of giraffes. It has large, distinctive, dark brown, vine-leaf shaped, jagged spots interspersed by creamy-brown irregular lines. The Masai ranges across central and southern Kenya and south into Tanzania, with populations also translocated into Rwanda. This may be the most populous of the (sub)species with an estimated fewer than 40,000 remaining in the wild, (though recent reports of significant poaching would suggest it likely to be significantly less). ISIS records indicate approximately 100 individuals kept in zoos.
This article was modififed from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Read the original article here.
Here are some cool infographics to aid you in your giraffe learning!