Angolan giraffe
| Angolan giraffe | |
|---|---|
| |
| An individual in the savannahs of Etosha National Park, Namibia. | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Giraffidae |
| Genus: | Giraffa |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | G. g. angolensis
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Giraffa giraffa angolensis Lydekker, 1903
| |
| File:Giraffa camelopardis distribution 2018.png | |
| Range in maroon | |
The Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis), formerly (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) also known as the Namibian giraffe or smokey giraffe, is a subspecies of the Southern Giraffe that is found in northern Namibia, south-western Zambia, Botswana, western Zimbabwe and since mid-2023 again in Angola, after its reintroduction to Iona National Park.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]In August 2025 after reviewing the scientific evidence the IUCN's Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group recognised four distinct species of giraffe,[3] the Northern Giraffe, Reticulated Giraffe, Masai Giraffe and Southern Giraffe. The Angolan Giraffe is now one of two subspecies of the Southern Giraffe. A previous 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.,[4][5] but could identify giraffes in southern Zimbabwe as the Angolan giraffe, suggesting a further eastward distribution than expected.[5]
Description
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Home range size of 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.[6] However, that home range size could be affected by abiotic(e.g climate), biotic(e.g forage availability, predator densities) and human influence(e.g population growth).[7]
Seasonal movement
[edit | edit source]As far as seasonal movements of giraffes were concerned, they were not as distinctive as those in other giraffe populations around the world. Male giraffe moves longer than female giraffe and also it has longer average daily movement (5.64 km compared to 1.87 km in 180 days during hot-dry season).[7]
Foraged activity
[edit | edit source]Angolan Giraffe tends to forage into the mountain during the cold-dry and early hot-dry season. It mainly eats Commiphora for living.[7]
Conservation
[edit | edit source]Approximately 13,000 animals are estimated to remain in the wild;[8] and about 20 are kept in zoos.
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Courting
Etosha National Park -
Female
Etosha National Park -
Female with young 2 months
Chobe National Park
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References
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- ^ For the first time in decades, Angolan giraffes now populate a park in Angola, Megan Lim, NPR, 2023-07-11
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
- File:Wikispecies-logo.svg Data related to Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis at Wikispecies
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