The world’s tallest land animal has undergone a major taxonomic shake-up. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) confirmed on 21 August that giraffes are no longer classified as a single species but instead as four distinct species.
Image of giraffes used for illustrative purposes/MARIOLA GROBELSKA/Unsplash
For decades, giraffes across Africa were grouped under one species with several subspecies. But mounting scientific evidence since 2016 — when the giraffe was last assessed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List — has suggested their diversity was being overlooked.
Following years of debate, the IUCN’s Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) has now concluded that giraffes should be split into four species: the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the reticulated giraffe (G. reticulata), the Masai giraffe (G. tippelskirchi), and the southern giraffe (G. giraffa).
The northern giraffe includes three subspecies, while both the Masai and southern giraffes are divided into two.
“Giraffe diversity has been underestimated for a long time,” Michael Brown, co-chair of the GOSG and co-author of the review, explained to Mongabay.
“Recognising four species instead of one allows conservation efforts to be more targeted, especially since some of these species have very small populations and face serious risks.”
The review examined eight potential lineages, weighing up genetic data, skull morphology, and geographical separation across Africa. While four lineages did not hold up under scrutiny, the other four consistently emerged as genetically and biologically distinct.
Giraffes are, in fact, among the most genetically studied large mammals in Africa, and the research points firmly to four unique species. Each occupies a different range:
- The northern giraffe occurs in fragmented areas from Niger across to East Africa.
- The reticulated giraffe is mainly restricted to northern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and Somalia.
- The Masai giraffe is widespread in Tanzania and parts of Kenya.
- The southern giraffe is found across southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
The next step is to assess each species’ conservation status separately on the IUCN Red List. This involves analysing population sizes, threats, and trends to determine how vulnerable each species is.
“This review sets the stage for more effective conservation,” Brown noted. “It’s not the conclusion but the beginning of a clearer roadmap for protecting giraffes across Africa.”
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