1) Reticulated, Netted, Somali giraffe
9 Different Species Of Giraffes
Other names for Reticulated giraffe are Somali giraffe and Netted giraffe. It has the most complicated spot patterns of any subspecies, although it is hard for the untrained eyes to distinguish. Their clear dark orange-brown spots are large and smooth-edged with narrow channels between them that make them appear darker than other species. The design looks like a perfectly planned mosaic and creates a web-like effect.
2) Kordofan giraffe
Native to Chad, Cameroon and Central African Republic, Kordofan giraffe has smaller and random spots that extend to the inner legs. There are about 65 of them in the zoos and 3,000 in the wild.
3) Nubian giraffe
Nubian giraffe thrives in eastern Sudan and northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Their coat pattern consists of large and four-sided spots which are chestnut brown in color on an off-white background. There are no spots on the inner sides of the legs. It is very rarely kept in captivity. Having said that, the zoo in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates has one. There are fewer than 250 of them in the wild, although this figure is uncertain.
4) South African giraffe
Native to Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa, the South African giraffe has blotched, rounded or star-like extension spots on a light tan background that run all the way down to the hooves. About 45 of them are in the zoos and 12,000 of them in the wild.
5) Angolan, Smokey giraffe
Described as smokey because of their light color, Angolan giraffes have notched indentations in their large spots on a white to cream background, extending down the lower legs. The lines between spots are darker than other giraffes, making them harder to distinguish from their spots. They occur in Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. About 20 of them are in the zoos and 20,000 of them remain in the wild.
6) West African giraffe
Commonly called Nigerian or West African giraffe, this subspecies of giraffe has numerous pale and yellowish spots. They are light in appearance, with rectangular tan blotches separated by cream-colored lines, with no patterning on their lower limbs. It is the rarest subspecies with only 220 of them remaining in the wild. Since it is native to southern Niger, it is also called Niger giraffe.
7) Rhodesian, Thornicroft giraffe
Luangwa valley in eastern Zambia is home to Rhodesian giraffe. It is also known as Thornicroft giraffe. It has star-shaped spots that extend to lower legs. They are never in the zoos, but an estimated number of 1,500 roam around in the wild.
8) Rothschild, Ugandan, Baringo giraffe
Rothschild giraffes have spots that are wavy on the edges. The spots are deep brown, rectangular or blotched with poorly defined cream lines. But the subspecies can be identified by the cream color below their knees that look like creamy stockings with no pattern. They roam the savannas of Kenya, Sudan and Uganda near Lake Baringo. Therefore, they are also called Ugandan giraffe or Baringo giraffe. Fewer than 700 are in the wild and 450 of them are kept in zoos.
9) Maasai, Kilimanjaro giraffe
Maasai giraffes are the icons of Kenyan plains. They are also known as Kilimanjaro giraffes. They are the tallest and the most abundant among the subspecies of giraffes in the wild. The thing that differentiates Maasai giraffes from other species is the design of its irregular star-shaped patches which are several shades of brown, orange or cream. They seem like vine leaves or maple leaves with jagged edges. They also look like grape leaves or oak leaves.
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