The Difference Between the Nine Sub-Species of Giraffe
The Giraffe is the tallest species of land mammal in the world, a bull giraffe can grow to be over 17 ft. in height and can weigh over 3,000 lb. Giraffes are herbivorous even toed ungulates, giraffes are one of the last two living species of the Giraffidae Family, and are most closely related to the Okapi. A Giraffe’s body is unusual in comparison to most ungulates, its body sloping down from the shoulders to the rump. However, all four legs are approximately equal length and the slope is caused by the tall dorsal spines on the thoracic vertebrae. Giraffes are known for their unique elongated neck and their colouration of yellow base or background skin colour, with tan or dark brown spots …show more content…
Its background colour is a light creamy yellow and its spots are a light brown. “The face of the West African giraffe has a forehead with very few dark spots, a distinctive feature that makes it easier to identify. If you observe another subspecies you will note that the upper part of the face and in the middle of the eyes the colour is dark brown, but in the case of the West African Giraffe is not, as there has a very light brown colour and cream.” (WEST AFRICAN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS PERALTA), 2014)
The Nubian Giraffes colouration is typical of most giraffe sub-species and its white separation of its spots. Its background colour is a very light sandy yellow but the lines between the spots are white and the spots are a chestnut brown. The underside of Nubian Giraffes is especially lacking in spots and the spots are more closely together than on those of other sub-species. (NORTHERN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS), …show more content…
Its background colour is tawny yellow and its spots are a reddish brown. The spots on South African Giraffes legs despite getting smaller keep their intense reddish-brown colour and unlike other sub-species of giraffe the colour does not fade the farther down the leg you go. (SOUTHERN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA GIRAFFA), 2014)
The Reticulated Giraffes, also known as the Somali Giraffe, colouration and skin design is unique in comparison to the other sub-species. Its background colour is white and its spots are a very distinctive deep brown. The spots on a Reticulated Giraffe cover the entirety of its body including the face, the spots are uniform and have a narrow separation. The spots begin to fade on the legs until the become the same white as the background colour. (RETICULATED GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA RETICULATA), 2014)
The Angolan Giraffes, also known as the Namibian giraffe, colouration is typical of most giraffe sub-species except its unique spots with an angular shape. Its background colour is a pale yellow and its spots are large and a tan brown. The spots on an Angolan Giraffe do not cover the giraffe forehead unlike most sub-species and they have a distinctive white patch on their ear tips. (SOUTHERN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA GIRAFFA),
The Giraffe is the tallest species of land mammal in the world, a bull giraffe can grow to be over 17 ft. in height and can weigh over 3,000 lb. Giraffes are herbivorous even toed ungulates, giraffes are one of the last two living species of the Giraffidae Family, and are most closely related to the Okapi. A Giraffe’s body is unusual in comparison to most ungulates, its body sloping down from the shoulders to the rump. However, all four legs are approximately equal length and the slope is caused by the tall dorsal spines on the thoracic vertebrae. Giraffes are known for their unique elongated neck and their colouration of yellow base or background skin colour, with tan or dark brown spots …show more content…
Its background colour is a light creamy yellow and its spots are a light brown. “The face of the West African giraffe has a forehead with very few dark spots, a distinctive feature that makes it easier to identify. If you observe another subspecies you will note that the upper part of the face and in the middle of the eyes the colour is dark brown, but in the case of the West African Giraffe is not, as there has a very light brown colour and cream.” (WEST AFRICAN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS PERALTA), 2014)
The Nubian Giraffes colouration is typical of most giraffe sub-species and its white separation of its spots. Its background colour is a very light sandy yellow but the lines between the spots are white and the spots are a chestnut brown. The underside of Nubian Giraffes is especially lacking in spots and the spots are more closely together than on those of other sub-species. (NORTHERN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS), …show more content…
Its background colour is tawny yellow and its spots are a reddish brown. The spots on South African Giraffes legs despite getting smaller keep their intense reddish-brown colour and unlike other sub-species of giraffe the colour does not fade the farther down the leg you go. (SOUTHERN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA GIRAFFA), 2014)
The Reticulated Giraffes, also known as the Somali Giraffe, colouration and skin design is unique in comparison to the other sub-species. Its background colour is white and its spots are a very distinctive deep brown. The spots on a Reticulated Giraffe cover the entirety of its body including the face, the spots are uniform and have a narrow separation. The spots begin to fade on the legs until the become the same white as the background colour. (RETICULATED GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA RETICULATA), 2014)
The Angolan Giraffes, also known as the Namibian giraffe, colouration is typical of most giraffe sub-species except its unique spots with an angular shape. Its background colour is a pale yellow and its spots are large and a tan brown. The spots on an Angolan Giraffe do not cover the giraffe forehead unlike most sub-species and they have a distinctive white patch on their ear tips. (SOUTHERN GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA GIRAFFA),