Southern giraffe
Southern giraffe | |
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Male Angolan giraffes in Etosha National Park, Namibia. | |
Not recognized (IUCN 3.1)
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Giraffidae |
Genus: | Giraffa |
Species: | G. giraffa
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Binomial name | |
Giraffa giraffa (von Schreber, 1784)
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The southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), also known as two-horned giraffe,[1] is a species of giraffe native to Southern Africa.[2] However, the IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies.[3][4]
Southern giraffes have rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the
Giraffes as one species are considered Vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN.[3]
Taxonomy and evolution
Living giraffes were originally classified as one species by
Subspecies
Two subspecies of southern giraffe are proposed.
Subspecies | Description | Image |
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Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis), also known as Namibian giraffe | Is found in northern Namib Desert and Etosha National Park populations each form a separate subspecies.[8] This subspecies has large brown blotches with edges that are either somewhat notched or have angular extensions. The spotting pattern extends throughout the legs but not the upper part of the face. The neck and rump patches tend to be fairly small. The subspecies also has a white ear patch.[9]: 51 Around 13,000 animals are estimated to remain in the wild; and about 20 are kept in zoos.[5]
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South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa), also known as Cape giraffe | Is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, Eswatini and south-western Mozambique. It has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed.[9]: 52 Approximately 31,500 are estimated to remain in the wild, and around 45 are kept in zoos.[5] |
Descriptions
The Cape subspecies of the southern giraffe has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of bulls is less developed.[9]: 52
Distribution and habitat
The southern giraffes live in the savannahs and woodlands of northern South Africa, Angola, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, Zambia and south-western Mozambique. After local extinctions in various places, the South African giraffes have been reintroduced in many parts of Southern Africa, including in Eswatini. They are common in both inside and outside of protected areas.[3]
Ecology and behavior
Southern giraffes usually live in savannahs and woodlands where food plants are available. Southern giraffes are herbivorous mammals. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia.
Threats
Southern giraffes are not threatened, as their population is increasing.[3]
References
- ^ Lesson, R. (1842). The Southern or Two-horned giraffe (Giraffa capensis). Existing Forms of Giraffe (February 16, 1897): 14.
- ^ PMID 32053589.
- ^ a b c d e Muller, Z.; Bercovitch, F.; Brand, R.; Brown, D.; Brown, M.; Bolger, D.; Carter, K.; Deacon, F.; Doherty, J.B.; Fennessy, J.; Fennessy, S.; Hussein, A.A.; Lee, D.; Marais, A.; Strauss, M.; Tutchings, A.; Wube, T. (2016). "Giraffa camelopardalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T9194A51140239. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ PMID 28222287.
- ^ PMID 27618261.
- JSTOR 3503830. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
- PMID 18154651.
- .
- ^ a b c Seymour, R. (2002) The taxonomic status of the giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis (L. 1758), PH.D Thesis