Rothschild's giraffe
| Rothschild's giraffe | |
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| Rothschild's giraffe in Tierpark Berlin in Germany | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Giraffidae |
| Genus: | Giraffa |
| Species: | G. camelopardalis |
| Subspecies: | G. c. camelopardis |
| Trinomial name | |
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Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardis |
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| Rothschild's giraffe's range in pink | |
| Synonyms | |
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G.c. rothschildi (Lydekker, 1903) |
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G.c. rothschildi (Lydekker, 1903)
The Rothschild's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis, formerly Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) was formerly considered a subspecies of a singular Giraffa species, but due to genetic analysis circa 2016, has now been determined to be a conspecific ecotype of the Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis), a subspecies of the northern giraffe. It is one of the most endangered distinct populations of giraffe, with 1500 individuals estimated in the wild.
Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi was named after the Tring Museum's founder, Walter Rothschild, and is also known as the Baringo giraffe, after the Lake Baringo area of Kenya, or as the Ugandan giraffe. All of those living in the wild are in protected areas in Kenya and Uganda. In 2007, Rothschild's giraffe was proposed as actually a separate species from other giraffe and not a giraffe subspecies. In 2016, a comprehensive analysis of all former giraffe subspecies concluded in the existence of four giraffe species, with the Rothschild's giraffe being deemed conspecific with the Nubian giraffe, which had never been analysed before. This resulted in both being composed as a single subspecies as the Nubian giraffe, in addition being added with the two other subspecies (the West African giraffe and the Kordofan giraffe) into the northern giraffe species.
The Rothschild's giraffe is easily distinguishable from other species, subspecies and distinct populations such as the Rhodesian giraffe. The most obvious sign is in the colouring of the coat, or pelt. Whereas the reticulated giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright-whitish channels between them, Rothschild's giraffe more closely resembles the proper coating of Masai giraffe. However, when compared to the Masai giraffe, the Rothschild's ecotype is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape, and the connective channel is of a creamier hue compared to that seen on the reticulated giraffe. In addition, Rothschild's giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving it the impression of wearing white stockings.
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Wikipedia