We studied more than 500 giraffe skulls from all over Africa – and confirmed there are 4 distinct species
There are significant differences in the skull shapes of the different types of giraffe.
theconversation.com
Giraffes are among the world’s most recognizable animals. With their elongated necks and long legs, their gracious movements, and unique coat patterns, they have inspired people’s imaginations for centuries.
But is a giraffe just a giraffe? Or is there more variety between the animals at a genetic level than is evident just from looking at them?
For more than a decade many researchers have compared the DNA of giraffes from all parts of Africa. These studies have revealed that there are four distinct giraffe species: the southern (Giraffa giraffa), Masai (Giraffa tippelskirchi), reticulated (Giraffa reticulata), and northern (Giraffa camelopardalis) giraffe.
Different giraffe species face different risks. Some are among the most threatened large mammals in the world. While the southern and the Masai giraffe are relatively numerous and their populations estimated at approximately 45,000 and 50,000 individuals respectively, the situation does not look quite as rosy for the reticulated and the northern giraffe. Based on the latest estimates from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), only 16,000 and 6,000 individuals respectively remain in the wild.
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