The experiment in this research article concludes that there are six separate giraffe species each considered to be an evolutionary significant unit. The biological species definition states that a species is a member of a population that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring and in doing so are reproductively isolated. Of the six listed giraffe species (Giraffa peralta, Giraffa rothschildi,Giraffa reticulata, Girraffa tippelskirchi, Giraffa giraffa, Giraffa angolensis) and the 381 giraffes tested only three giraffes were found to be hybrid – resulting in relatively low gene flow between the species. Several other isolation factors are seen among giraffes that have led to their speciation including climate, habitat and behavioral changes.
