South African giraffe

South African giraffe
A male South African giraffe in South Africa.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Giraffa
Species: G. camelopardalis
Subspecies: G. c. giraffa
Trinomial name
Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa
von Schreber, 1784
Range map in tawny-orange (in the south)

The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a subspecies of giraffe native to Southern Africa. It ranges from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2010, it was estimated that a maximum of 12,000 South African giraffes are living in the wild,[1] and around 45 are being kept in captivity.[2]

Descriptions

A bull South African giraffe in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, demonstrating the rounded and blotched spots characteristic of this subspecies.

The South African 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.[3]:52

Distribution and habitat

The South African giraffe is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and south-western Mozambique.[1] 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.[4]

South African giraffes usually live in savannahs, grasslands and woodlands in which food are available. The giraffes are herbivorous animals. They feed on grass, Acacia shrubs, tree leaves and fruits.

Threats

South African giraffes are not a threatened species, as their population are increasing whilst their northernmost relatives are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.[4] On the other hand, the South African subspecies are usually threatened by predation, as they are occasionally preyed by Transvaal lions especially in Kruger National Park.[5] Giraffe calves can also be preyed by South African cheetahs, African leopards, spotted hyenas and Cape wild dogs.

In captivity

The South African giraffes are not pretty common in captivity. As of 2010, there are around 45 giraffes breeding in zoos.[1]

Gallery

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Giraffe – The Facts: Current giraffe status?". Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "Giraffa". ISIS. 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. ↑ Seymour, R. (2002) The taxonomic status of the giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis (L. 1758), PH.D Thesis
  4. 1 2 Fennessy, J.; Brown, D. (2010). "Giraffa camelopardalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  5. ↑ Owen-Smith, N.; Mills, M. G. (2008). "Predator-prey size relationships in an African large-mammal food web" (PDF). Journal of Animal Ecology 77 (1): 173–83. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01314.x. PMID 18177336.

External links

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