Giraffes? Not One, but Four Species
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They may all look the same at first glance, but today we know that there are more giraffe species than previously thought. A recent review by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), based on original and updated data as well as expert opinions, has recognised the existence of four distinct species and several subspecies. The definition of the number of giraffe species that exist has always been a matter of debate among scientists worldwide. In fact, in 2016, it was believed that there was only one species with as many as nine subspecies. So, what led to this update? Genetic and genomic analyses carried out on existing giraffe populations have been made possible by recent scientific advances.
The assessment was conducted using the so-called “traffic light system,” already applied to other animal groups such as canids and felids. This method combines multiple converging lines of evidence: morphological/phenotypic characteristics (physical traits distinguishing one population from another), genetic data (to reconstruct close and distant relationships), and biogeographical information (showing how populations have been distributed and separated in the past and present).
The traffic light categories are:
Distinct (green): three or more independent lines of evidence indicate clear differences.
Probably distinct (yellow): multiple lines of evidence suggest differences, but further research is needed.
Unknown/Invalid (grey): little or no available evidence.
Not distinct (red): no evidence of separation, or published studies confirm conspecificity or subspecificity.
A key contribution to this review came from 3D morphometric analysis of 515 giraffe skulls from across Africa. By contrast, the coat pattern — although distinctive — is not considered a reliable criterion, as its shape and colour vary with age and population.
The combined data clearly distinguished (green light) the following species, with their respective subspecies:
Giraffa camelopardalis (G. c. antiquorum, G. c. peralta, G. c. camelopardalis)
Giraffa reticulata
Giraffa tippelskirchi (G. t. tippelskirchi, G. t. thornicrofti)
Giraffa giraffa ()
These taxonomic updates are crucial for conservation, as they provide a clearer picture of giraffe diversity and offer a solid foundation for targeted management of their populations.
See You Soon and Good Science!
Source Pic by Michael Brown
