JEAS-Blog (2025.8.1)
Four Distinct Giraffe Species Recognized: IUCN Report
Muhammad Ishaq Asif Rehmani
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
mrehmani@gudgk.edu.pk
A landmark report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) has reclassified the genus Giraffe. Previously considered a single species, the iconic animal of the African savanna is now recognized as four distinct species, a revision driven by advances in molecular phylogenetics that revealed significant genetic differences between populations (IUCN, 2025). This critical update has major implications for the conservation and management of these African ungulates.
Understanding these differences is key to protecting them all. Four Species of Giraffe
| Species | Identifying Features | Location |
| Masai Giraffe: (Giraffa tippelskirchi) Masai giraffe (G. t. tippelskirchi) Luangwa/Thornicroft’s giraffe (G. t. thornicrofti) | Jagged, vine-leaf-shaped spots that appear dark brown on a creamy background | Southern Kenya and Tanzania |
| Southern Giraffe: (Giraffa giraffa) Subspecies: South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa) Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis) | Rounded or star-shaped patches with a light background | Various countries in southern Africa |
| Northern Giraffe: Giraffa camelopardalis Subspecies West African giraffe (G. c. peralta) Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum) Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis) | Relatively light, rectangular spots | Scattered populations across East and West Africa |
| Reticulated Giraffe: Giraffa reticulata | A stunning, well-defined network of sharp, russet-colored polygons separated by bright white lines | Northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and Somalia |
Source: IUCN, 2025
Source: Robin James
Why the New Classification is Important
This isn’t just a scientific matter; it is about recognizing four separate species, vital for conservation.
According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, giraffe populations have declined by almost 30% over the past few decades, with some species facing even more severe declines.
“This landmark taxonomic revision by the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group reflects the best available science and provides a globally standardised framework to inform conservation,” Brown, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Giraffe
Each species has a smaller, more isolated population and faces unique threats. By classifying them separately, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) can assess the status of each one more accurately, allowing conservation groups to direct resources and efforts where they are needed most urgently.
Giraffe Quick Facts (IUCN)
- Scientific Name: Giraffa (Genus)
- Size: Up to 19 feet (5.8 meters) tall
- Weight: 1,800 – 2,800 pounds (820 – 1,270 kg)
- Lifespan: 20–25 years in the wild
- Diet: Herbivore (primarily acacia leaves)
- Habitat: Savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of Africa
- Overall Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List), with some subspecies classified as Critically Endangered.
Cite this Blog as:
Rehmani, M.I.A. 2025. Four Distinct Giraffe Species Recognized: IUCN Report. Agropublishers, Multan, Pakistan. JEAS-Blog. 2025(8): 1
Copyright © Rehmani, 2025. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original author and source are appropriately cited and credited.
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References
Bercovitch, F.B., P.S.M. Berry, A. Dagg, F. Deacon, J.B. Doherty, D.E. Lee, F. Mineur et al. 2017. How many species of giraffe are there?. Curr. Biol. 27(4): R136-R137.
Brown, D.M., Brenneman, R.A., Koepfli, KP. et al. 2007. Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe. BMC Biol. 5: 57.
Coimbra, R.T.F., S. Winter, V. Kumar, K.P. Koepfli, R.M. Gooley, P. Dobrynin, J. Fennessy, and A. Janke. 2021. Whole-genome analysis of Giraffe supports four distinct species. Curr. Biol. 31(13): 2929-2938.
IUCN SSC Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group Taxonomic Task Force. 2025. An evaluation of the taxonomic status of giraffe (Giraffa spp.). IUCN SSC Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group. Windhoek, Namibia.
Muneza, A.B., M.B. Brown, S. Fennessy, S.D. Ferguson, R. Hoffman, A. Janke, N. Kargopoulos et al. 2025. Effective conservation and management of giraffe require adopting recent advances of their taxonomy. Biodivers. Conserv. 34(4): 1211-1229.
Muller, Z. and S. Harris. 2022. A review of the social behaviour of the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis: a misunderstood but socially complex species. Mam. Rev. 52: 1-15.