Giraffes Are Four Species, Not One

                Genetic research on the world’s tallest land animal has found that there are four distinct species of giraffe, nor just one as long believed, with two of them at alarmingly low population levels. Scientists on 8 September unveiled a comprehensive genetic analysis of giraffes using DNA from 190 of the towering herbivores from across their range in Africa. The genetic data showed that four separate species of giraffes that do not interbreed in the wild inhabit various parts of the continent. Beyond genetics, the researchers identified differences among the four species including body shape, coloration and coat patterns. Genetic differences among the four species were comparable to those between polar bears and brown bears.

                Until now, scientists had recognized a single species, with the scientific name Giraffa camelopardalis. The study identified the four separate species as: the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), with a population of 52,000; the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), with 32,500; the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata), with 8,700; and the northern giraffe(Giraffa camelopardalis), with 4,750. The conservation implications are immense and our findings will hopefully help put giraffe conservation on the map. The giraffe currently is not listed as endangered, although its population has declined dramatically over the past three decades from more than 150,000 to fewer 100,000.