Southern giraffe
| Southern giraffe | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A South African giraffe (G. giraffa giraffa). | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Giraffidae |
| Genus: | Giraffa |
| Species: | G. giraffa |
| Binomial name | |
|
Giraffa giraffa (von Schreber, 1784) |
|
 |
|
| Range map in red and tawny-orange | |
The southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) is a species of giraffe native to Southern Africa. It ranges from South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves. Once considered a subspecies of the conglomerate Giraffa camelopardalis species, recent studies identified the southern giraffe as a separate species of a reorganised Giraffa genus. Their approximate population is composed of 44,500 individuals.
All giraffes are considered Vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN.
Two subspecies of southern giraffe are recognised.
The Cape subspecies of 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 males is less developed.
The Southern giraffes live in 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 Swaziland. They are common in both in and outside of protected areas.
Southern giraffes usually live in savannahs and woodlands where food plants are available. Southern giraffes are herbivorous animals. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia.
Southern giraffes are not a threatened species, as their population is increasing. On the other hand, the South African subspecies are occasionally preyed upon by Transvaal lions especially in Kruger National Park. Giraffe calves can also be preyed upon by African leopards, hyenas and Cape wild dogs.
...
Wikipedia