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Kordofan giraffe

Kordofan giraffe
Kordofan giraffe in Vincennes Zoo, Paris
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Giraffa
Species:
G. camelopardalis
Subspecies:
G. c. antiquorum
Trinomial name
Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum
Range in blue

The Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa antiquorum[2] or Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in northern Cameroon, southern Chad, the Central African Republic, and possibly western Sudan.[3] They usually live in tree savannas, bush savannas and thorn savannas.[4] Compared to most other subspecies, the Kordofan giraffe is relatively small at 3.8 to 4.7 meters,[5] with more irregular spots on the inner legs. There are around 2,300 individuals living in the wild.[6] In the wild, female Kordofan giraffes live in loose groups, whilst males live solitary.[4] They have an average lifespan of around 35 years.[4]

The Christian Science Monitor lists only 38 individuals being alive in the embattled Garamba National Park in The Democratic Republic of Congo due to poaching; their skin is used for luxury goods and they are said to produce enough meat to feed poachers for weeks.[citation needed] Recent genetic studies also shows distinct genetic populations of giraffes that makes conservation of these subspecies even more important.[7]

The population in the Bénoué Complex, Cameroon (a landscape that consists of three national parks: Bénoué National Park, Faro National Park, Bouba Njida National Park); interconnected by 29 hunting zones), numbers fewer than 300 individuals as of 2023.[8] Illegal hunting represents the greatest threat to the subspecies, particularly in Bénoué National Park, where it may become locally extinct without further conservation interventions.[8]

The Kordofan giraffe eats a variety of sticks, leaves and bark, usually of Acacia trees. Additionally they eat grasses, buds, as well as seeds.[9] Like other giraffes, they classify as herbivores.[4]

Taxonomy

Its English name is a reference to Kordofan in Sudan.[2][3]

Habitat

They are naturally found in northern Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic and western Sudan.[3][4][9] Kordofan giraffe live in steppes, as well as bush, tree and shrub savannas.[4] Historically some confusion has existed over the exact range limit of this subspecies compared to the West African giraffe, with populations in e.g. northern Cameroon formerly assigned to the latter.[2] Genetic work has also revealed that all "West African giraffe" in European zoos are in fact Kordofan giraffe.[2] It has been suggested that the Nigerian giraffe's ancestor dispersed from East to North Africa during the Quaternary period and thereafter migrated to its current Sahel distribution in West Africa in response to the development of the Sahara desert.[3]

Appearance

The Kordofan giraffe has spots similarly to other giraffe subspecies. They are even-toed ungulades and walk on long legs. Compared to other subspecies they are rather small; males are on average 6 meters tall, females reach a height of 4,5 meters.[10] Their shoulder height lies between 2 meters for females to 3,5 meters for males.[10] On top of that they have more irregular spots on the inner legs.

They have a blue tongue, which is around 50 centimeters long.[4]

Diet

Like other giraffe subspecies, the Kordofan giraffe is a herbivore. Its diet consist of a variety of grasses, shrubs, buds, branches, leaves and bark, as well as seeds.[4][9] Their main food source comes from the Acacia trees.

References

  1. ^ Fennessy, J. & Marais, A. (2018). "Giraffa camelopardalis ssp. antiquorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T88420742A88420817.
  2. ^ a b c d Groves, Colin; Grubb, Peter (2011). Ungulate Taxonomy. JHU Press. pp. 68–70. ISBN 9781421400938.
  3. ^ a b c d Hassanin, A.; A. Ropiquet; A. L. Gourmand; B. Chardonnet & J. Rigoulet (2007). "Mitochondrial DNA variability in Giraffa camelopardalis: consequences for taxonomy, phylogeography and conservation of giraffes in West and central Africa". Comptes Rendus Biologies [fr]. 330 (3): 265–274. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2007.02.008. ISSN 1631-0691. PMID 17434121.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kordofan-Giraffe". Zoo Dresden (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  5. ^ "Giraffe Species". www.Giraffworlds.com. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  6. ^ "Kordofan Giraffe Conservation in Chad". Giraffe Conservation. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  7. ^ Hinckley, Story (28 February 2016). "Why is this rare giraffe almost extinct?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  8. ^ a b Colston, Kane (12 July 2023). "Viability analysis of Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) in a protected area in Cameroon". African Journal of Ecology. 61 (4): 929–944. doi:10.1111/aje.13196. S2CID 260644184. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Basel, Zoo. "Kordofan-Giraffe". www.zoobasel.ch (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  10. ^ a b Basel, Zoo. "Kordofan-Giraffe". www.zoobasel.ch (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-28.


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