Angolan giraffe
Angolan giraffe | |
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Males in Etosha National Park, Namibia. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Giraffidae |
Genus: | Giraffa |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | G. c. angolensis
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Trinomial name | |
Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis Lydekker, 1903
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Range map in yellow |
The Angolan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis), also known as the Namibian giraffe, is a subspecies of giraffe that is found in northern Namibia, south-western Zambia, Botswana, and western Zimbabwe.
Taxonomy[]
A 2009 genetic study on this subspecies suggests the northern Namib Desert and Etosha National Park populations each form a separate subspecies. However, genetic studies based on mitochondrial DNA do not support the division into two subspecies.,[2][3] but could identify giraffe in southern Zimbabwe as Angolan giraffe, suggestion a further eastward distribution than expected.[3]
Description[]
This subspecies has large brown blotches with edges that are either somewhat notched or have angular extensions. The spotting pattern extends throughout the legs but not the upper part of the face. The neck and rump patches tend to be fairly small. The subspecies also has a white ear patch.
Habitat[]
Home range size of Angolan giraffes was found to be larger in unproductive areas such as the Namib Desert and much smaller in more productive areas such as Lake Manyara National Park.[4]
Conservation[]
Approximately 13,000 animals are estimated to remain in the wild;[5] and about 20 are kept in zoos.
Courting
Etosha National ParkFemale
Etosha National ParkFemale with young 2 months
Chobe National Park
References[]
- ^ Marais, A., Fennessy, J., Fennessy, S., Brand, R. & Carter, K. (2020). "Angolan Giraffe". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T88420726A176393590. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T88420726A176393590.en.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- ^ Brown, David M; Brenneman, Rick A; Koepfli, Klaus-Peter; Pollinger, John P; Milá, Borja; Georgiadis, Nicholas J; Louis, Edward E; Grether, Gregory F; Jacobs, David K (2007). "Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe". BMC Biology. 5 (1): 57. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-5-57. ISSN 1741-7007. PMC 2254591. PMID 18154651.
- ^ a b Winter, Sven; Fennessy, Julian; Fennessy, Stephanie; Janke, Axel (2018). "Matrilineal population structure and distribution of the Angolan giraffe in the Namib desert and beyond". Ecological Genetics and Genomics. 7–8: 1–5. doi:10.1016/j.egg.2018.03.003. ISSN 2405-9854. S2CID 90395544.
- ^ Flanagan, S. E.; Brown, M. B.; Fennessy, J.; Bolger, D. T. (2016). "Use of home range behaviour to assess establishment in translocated giraffes". Afr. J. Ecol. 54 (3): 365–374. doi:10.1111/aje.12299.
- ^ Fennessy, Julian; Bidon, Tobias; Reuss, Friederike; Kumar, Vikas; Elkan, Paul; Nilsson, Maria A.; Vamberger, Melita; Fritz, Uwe; Janke, Axel (2016). "Multi-locus Analyses Reveal Four Giraffe Species Instead of One". Current Biology. 26 (18): 2543–2549. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.036. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 27618261.
External links[]
Media related to Angolan Giraffes at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis at Wikispecies
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Giraffes
- Mammals of Southern Africa
- Mammals of Angola
- Mammals of Namibia
- Mammals of Zambia
- Mammals of Botswana
- Mammals of Zimbabwe
- Mammals described in 1903
- Even-toed ungulate stubs