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m Changed all occurrences of 'horn' to 'ossicone'. True horns are bone with a keratinaized horn outer sheath. Ossicones, found only on giraffes and male okapi, are ossified cartilage covered by skin and fur, not a horn sheath. |
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Rothschild Giraffes are easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the colouring of the coat, or [[Fur|pelt]]. Where the Reticulated Giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright whitish channels between them, the Rothschild Giraffe more closely resembles the [[Masai Giraffe]]. However, when compared to the Masai Giraffe, the Rothschild subspecies is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape and the connective channel is of a [[Cream (colour)|creamier hue]] compared to that seen on the Reticulated Giraffe. In addition, the Rothschild Giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving the impression that it is wearing white stockings.<ref name=obit/> |
Rothschild Giraffes are easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the colouring of the coat, or [[Fur|pelt]]. Where the Reticulated Giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright whitish channels between them, the Rothschild Giraffe more closely resembles the [[Masai Giraffe]]. However, when compared to the Masai Giraffe, the Rothschild subspecies is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape and the connective channel is of a [[Cream (colour)|creamier hue]] compared to that seen on the Reticulated Giraffe. In addition, the Rothschild Giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving the impression that it is wearing white stockings.<ref name=obit/> |
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Another distinguishing feature of the Rothschild Giraffe, although harder to spot, is the number of |
Another distinguishing feature of the Rothschild Giraffe, although harder to spot, is the number of [[ossicones]] on the head. This is the only subspecies to be born with five ossicones. Two of these are the larger and more obvious ossicones at the top of the head, which are common to all giraffes. The third ossicone can often be seen in the center of the giraffe's forehead and the other two are behind each ear.{{Citation needed}} They are also taller than many other subspecies, measuring up to six metres tall (20 ft).<ref name=obit/> |
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| url = http://www.zoo.org.au/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?DocID=2294,2292,475,474,39,290,Documents&MediaID=1491&Filename=mam-giraffe.pdf |
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| title = ROTHSCHILD GIRAFFE - Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi |
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| publisher = Zoological Parks and Gardens Board of Victoria |
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| accessdate = 2010-03-07 |
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}}</ref> They are also taller than many other subspecies, measuring up to six metres tall (20 ft).<ref name=obit/> |
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Rothschild Giraffes mate at any time of the year and have a gestation period of 14 to 16 months, only one calf is generally being born. They live in small herds, with males and females (and their calves) living separately, only mixing for mating. |
Rothschild Giraffes mate at any time of the year and have a gestation period of 14 to 16 months, only one calf is generally being born. They live in small herds, with males and females (and their calves) living separately, only mixing for mating.{{Citation needed}} |
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Males are larger than females and their two 'true' horns are usually bald from [[Sparring in nature and animals|sparring]]. They usually tend to be darker in colour than the females, although this is not a guaranteed sexing indicator. |
Males are larger than females and their two 'true' horns are usually bald from [[Sparring in nature and animals|sparring]]. They usually tend to be darker in colour than the females, although this is not a guaranteed sexing indicator. |
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Revision as of 13:49, 25 September 2012
| Rothschild Giraffe | |
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| Subspecies: | G. c. rothschildi Lydekker, 1903
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| Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi | |
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| Rothschild giraffe range in light green | |
The Rothschild Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)[2] is one of the most endangered giraffe subspecies with only a few hundred members in the wild.[3] It is named after the famous family of the Tring Museum's founder, Lord Walter Rothschild,[4] and is also known as the Baringo Giraffe, after the Lake Baringo area of Kenya,[5] or as the Ugandan Giraffe. All of those that are living in the wild are in protected areas in Kenya and Uganda.[3] In 2007, it was proposed that the Rothschild Giraffe is actually a separate species from other giraffes and not a giraffe subspecies.[3]
While giraffes in general are classified as Least Concern, the Rothschild Giraffe is at particular risk of hybridisation, as the population is so limited in numbers. There are very few locations where the Rothschild Giraffe can be seen in the wild, with notable spots being Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya[6] and Murchison Falls National Park[7] in northern Uganda.
There are various captive breeding programmes in place— notably at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya—which aim to expand the gene pool in the wild population of the Rothschild Giraffe. As of January 2011[update], more than 450 are kept in ISIS registered zoos (which does not include the Nairobi Giraffe Centre), making it the most commonly kept subspecies of giraffe together with the Reticulated Giraffe.[8] Of those, almost 50 are the result of births within the last year.[when?][8]
Rothschild Giraffes are easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the colouring of the coat, or pelt. Where the Reticulated Giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright whitish channels between them, the Rothschild Giraffe more closely resembles the Masai Giraffe. However, when compared to the Masai Giraffe, the Rothschild subspecies is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape and the connective channel is of a creamier hue compared to that seen on the Reticulated Giraffe. In addition, the Rothschild Giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving the impression that it is wearing white stockings.[4]
Another distinguishing feature of the Rothschild Giraffe, although harder to spot, is the number of ossicones on the head. This is the only subspecies to be born with five ossicones. Two of these are the larger and more obvious ossicones at the top of the head, which are common to all giraffes. The third ossicone can often be seen in the center of the giraffe's forehead and the other two are behind each ear.[citation needed] They are also taller than many other subspecies, measuring up to six metres tall (20 ft).[4]
Rothschild Giraffes mate at any time of the year and have a gestation period of 14 to 16 months, only one calf is generally being born. They live in small herds, with males and females (and their calves) living separately, only mixing for mating.[citation needed]
Males are larger than females and their two 'true' horns are usually bald from sparring. They usually tend to be darker in colour than the females, although this is not a guaranteed sexing indicator.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b c "Not one but 'six giraffe species'". BBC News Online. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ a b c Reed, Christopher (2005-10-11). "Obituary - Betty Leslie-Melville". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ^ Eric O. Odada. "Lake Baringo" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ^ "Lake Nakuru National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ^ "National Parks & Safaris". Uganda Tourist Board. Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ a b International Species Information System (2011). Giraffa camelopardalis. Version 12 Jan 2011.
External links
Media related to Rothschild Giraffes at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi at Wikispecies
