Jump to content

Masai giraffe: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Egros018 (talk | contribs)
22 edits
Added information about how fast they can gallop
Egros018 (talk | contribs)
22 edits
m Fixed some grammatical mistakes
Line 23: Line 23:


==Conservation==
==Conservation==
Masai giraffes are considered [[Vulnerable species|endangered]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|IUCN]],<ref name="iucn" /> and the Masai giraffe population declined 52% in recent decades due to poaching and habitat loss. Overall, the approximate number of all populations accumulate to 32,550 in the wild. Demographic studies of wild giraffes living inside and outside protected areas suggest low adult survival outside protected areas due to poaching, and low calf survival inside protected areas due to predation are the primary influences on population growth rates.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E.|last2=Bond|first2=Monica L.|last3=Kissui|first3=Bernard M.|last4=Kiwango|first4=Yustina A.|last5=Bolger|first5=Douglas T.|date=2016-05-11|title=Spatial variation in giraffe demography: a test of 2 paradigms|journal=Journal of Mammalogy|language=en|pages=1015–1025|doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyw086|issn=0022-2372|volume=97|issue=4|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.09721-9|title=Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences|last1=Lee|first1=D. E.|last2=Strauss|first2=M. K. L|date=2016-01-01|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=9780124095489}}</ref> Survival of giraffe calves is influenced by the season of birth,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek Edward|last2=Bond|first2=Monica Louise|last3=Bolger|first3=Douglas Thomas|date=2017-01-01|title=Season of birth affects juvenile survival of giraffe|journal=Population Ecology|language=en|volume=59|issue=1|pages=45–54|doi=10.1007/s10144-017-0571-8|s2cid=7611046|issn=1438-3896}}</ref> and the seasonal local presence or absence of long-distance migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E.|last2=Kissui|first2=Bernard M.|last3=Kiwango|first3=Yustina A.|last4=Bond|first4=Monica L.|date=2016|title=Migratory herds of wildebeests and zebras indirectly affect calf survival of giraffes|journal=Ecology and Evolution|volume=6|issue=23|language=en|pages=8402–8411|doi=10.1002/ece3.2561|pmid=28031792|pmc=5167056|issn=2045-7758}}</ref> Metapopulation analysis indicated protected areas were important for keeping giraffes in the larger landscape.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E.|last2=Bolger|first2=Douglas T.|date=2017-05-05|title=Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation|journal=Population Ecology|volume=59|issue=2|language=en|pages=157–168|doi=10.1007/s10144-017-0580-7|s2cid=24276021|issn=1438-3896}}</ref> ''In situ'' conservation of Masai giraffes is being done by several government agencies including [[Kenya Wildlife Service]], [[Tanzania National Parks Authority|Tanzania National Parks]], [[Zambia Wildlife Authority]]; and non-governmental organizations including PAMS Foundation, and [https://www.wildnatureinstitute.org/save-the-giraffe.html Wild Nature Institute]. [[Community-based natural resource management|Community-based wildlife conservation areas]] have also been shown to be effective at protecting giraffes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E|last2=Bond|first2=Monica L|date=2018-02-26|title=Quantifying the ecological success of a community-based wildlife conservation area in Tanzania|journal=Journal of Mammalogy|language=en|volume=99|issue=2|pages=459–464|doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyy014|pmid=29867255|pmc=5965405|issn=0022-2372}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=Derek E.|date=2018-08-10|title=Evaluating conservation effectiveness in a Tanzanian community wildlife management area|journal=The Journal of Wildlife Management|volume=82|issue=8|pages=1767–1774|language=en|doi=10.1002/jwmg.21549|issn=0022-541X}}</ref> Over 100 Masai Giraffe currently live under human care in [[Association of Zoos and Aquariums|AZA]] accredited zoos in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Monson |first=Michael L. |last2=Dennis |first2=Patricia M. |last3=Lukas |first3=Kristen E. |last4=Krynak |first4=Katherine L. |last5=Carrino-Kyker |first5=Sarah R. |last6=Burke |first6=David J. |last7=Schook |first7=Mandi W. |date=2018 |title=The effects of increased hay-to-grain ratio on behavior, metabolic health measures, and fecal bacterial communities in four Masai giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo |url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/zoo.21434 |journal=Zoo Biology |language=en |volume=37 |issue=5 |pages=320–331 |doi=10.1002/zoo.21434}}</ref> At several zoos, Masai giraffe cows have become pregnant and successfully given birth.<ref>Gregory, Kim Lamb (May 10, 2014). [http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/may/10/mothers-nature-in-the-animal-world/ "Mothers' nature in the animal world"] ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> Masai giraffes have been known to suffer from giraffe skin disease (GSD) which is an undetermined disorder that etiologically causes lesion on the forelimbs of Masai giraffes, this is disorder is further investigated by scientists to observe the mortality rates of this species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lee |first=Derek E. |last2=Bond |first2=Monica L. |date=July 2016 |title=The Occurrence and Prevalence of Giraffe Skin Disease in Protected Areas of Northern Tanzania |url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.7589/2015-09-247 |journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases |language=en |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=753–755 |doi=10.7589/2015-09-247 |issn=0090-3558 |via=Science citation index}}</ref>
Masai giraffes are considered [[Vulnerable species|endangered]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|IUCN]],<ref name="iucn" /> and the Masai giraffe population declined 52% in recent decades due to poaching and habitat loss. Overall, the approximate number of all populations accumulate to 32,550 in the wild. Demographic studies of wild giraffes living inside and outside protected areas suggest low adult survival outside protected areas due to poaching, and low calf survival inside protected areas due to predation are the primary influences on population growth rates.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E.|last2=Bond|first2=Monica L.|last3=Kissui|first3=Bernard M.|last4=Kiwango|first4=Yustina A.|last5=Bolger|first5=Douglas T.|date=2016-05-11|title=Spatial variation in giraffe demography: a test of 2 paradigms|journal=Journal of Mammalogy|language=en|pages=1015–1025|doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyw086|issn=0022-2372|volume=97|issue=4|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.09721-9|title=Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences|last1=Lee|first1=D. E.|last2=Strauss|first2=M. K. L|date=2016-01-01|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=9780124095489}}</ref> Survival of giraffe calves is influenced by the season of birth,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek Edward|last2=Bond|first2=Monica Louise|last3=Bolger|first3=Douglas Thomas|date=2017-01-01|title=Season of birth affects juvenile survival of giraffe|journal=Population Ecology|language=en|volume=59|issue=1|pages=45–54|doi=10.1007/s10144-017-0571-8|s2cid=7611046|issn=1438-3896}}</ref> and the seasonal local presence or absence of long-distance migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E.|last2=Kissui|first2=Bernard M.|last3=Kiwango|first3=Yustina A.|last4=Bond|first4=Monica L.|date=2016|title=Migratory herds of wildebeests and zebras indirectly affect calf survival of giraffes|journal=Ecology and Evolution|volume=6|issue=23|language=en|pages=8402–8411|doi=10.1002/ece3.2561|pmid=28031792|pmc=5167056|issn=2045-7758}}</ref> Metapopulation analysis indicated protected areas were important for keeping giraffes in the larger landscape.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E.|last2=Bolger|first2=Douglas T.|date=2017-05-05|title=Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation|journal=Population Ecology|volume=59|issue=2|language=en|pages=157–168|doi=10.1007/s10144-017-0580-7|s2cid=24276021|issn=1438-3896}}</ref> ''In situ'' conservation of Masai giraffes is being done by several government agencies including [[Kenya Wildlife Service]], [[Tanzania National Parks Authority|Tanzania National Parks]], [[Zambia Wildlife Authority]]; and non-governmental organizations including PAMS Foundation, and [https://www.wildnatureinstitute.org/save-the-giraffe.html Wild Nature Institute]. [[Community-based natural resource management|Community-based wildlife conservation areas]] have also been shown to be effective at protecting giraffes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Derek E|last2=Bond|first2=Monica L|date=2018-02-26|title=Quantifying the ecological success of a community-based wildlife conservation area in Tanzania|journal=Journal of Mammalogy|language=en|volume=99|issue=2|pages=459–464|doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyy014|pmid=29867255|pmc=5965405|issn=0022-2372}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=Derek E.|date=2018-08-10|title=Evaluating conservation effectiveness in a Tanzanian community wildlife management area|journal=The Journal of Wildlife Management|volume=82|issue=8|pages=1767–1774|language=en|doi=10.1002/jwmg.21549|issn=0022-541X}}</ref> Over 100 Masai Giraffe currently live under human care in [[Association of Zoos and Aquariums|AZA]] accredited zoos in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Monson |first=Michael L. |last2=Dennis |first2=Patricia M. |last3=Lukas |first3=Kristen E. |last4=Krynak |first4=Katherine L. |last5=Carrino-Kyker |first5=Sarah R. |last6=Burke |first6=David J. |last7=Schook |first7=Mandi W. |date=2018 |title=The effects of increased hay-to-grain ratio on behavior, metabolic health measures, and fecal bacterial communities in four Masai giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo |url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/zoo.21434 |journal=Zoo Biology |language=en |volume=37 |issue=5 |pages=320–331 |doi=10.1002/zoo.21434}}</ref> At several zoos, Masai giraffe cows have become pregnant and successfully given birth.<ref>Gregory, Kim Lamb (May 10, 2014). [http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/may/10/mothers-nature-in-the-animal-world/ "Mothers' nature in the animal world"] ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> Masai giraffes have been known to suffer from giraffe skin disease (GSD) which is an undetermined disorder that etiologically causes lesion on the forelimbs of Masai giraffes. This disorder is being further investigated by scientists to better understand mortality rates in this species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lee |first=Derek E. |last2=Bond |first2=Monica L. |date=July 2016 |title=The Occurrence and Prevalence of Giraffe Skin Disease in Protected Areas of Northern Tanzania |url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.7589/2015-09-247 |journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases |language=en |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=753–755 |doi=10.7589/2015-09-247 |issn=0090-3558 |via=Science citation index}}</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==

Revision as of 11:44, 2 May 2022

Masai giraffe
A Masai giraffe in Serengeti, Tanzania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Giraffa
Species:
G. c. tippelskirchi
Binomial name
Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
(Matschie, 1898)
Range map in blue
Synonyms

Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi

The Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi or G. tippelskirchi), also spelled Maasai giraffe, and sometimes called Kilimanjaro giraffe, is one of the nine subspecies of giraffe. It is native to East Africa. The Masai giraffe can be found in central and southern Kenya and in Tanzania. It has distinctive, irregular, jagged, star-like blotches that extend from the hooves to its head. The Masai giraffe is currently the national animal of Tanzania.[2]

Taxonomy

The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies[1][3][4] The Masai giraffe was described and given the binomial name Giraffa tippelskirchi by German zoologist Paul Matschie in 1898, but current taxonomy refers to Masai giraffe as Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi. The Masai giraffe was named in honor of Herr von Tippelskirch who was a member of a German scientific expedition in German East Africa to what is now northern Tanzania in 1896. Tippelskirch brought back the skin of a female Masai giraffe from near Lake Eyasi which was later on identified as Giraffa tippelskirchi. Alternative taxonomic hypotheses have proposed Masai giraffe may be its own species.[5]

Description

The Masai giraffe is distinguished by jagged and irregular spots on its body. Its geographic range includes various parts of central, eastern, and southern Africa.[6][7][8] It is the largest-bodied giraffe species, making it the tallest land animal on Earth.[6] Bulls are generally larger and heavier than females, weighing close to 1300 kilograms and growing up to 5 and a half meters in height. The giraffes most famous feature, its neck, contains seven vertebrae and makes up roughly one third of its body height. Its long and muscular tongue, which can be up to 50 centimeters in length, is prehensile and allows it to grab leaves from tall trees that are inaccessible to other animals. The tongues darker pigment is believed to function as a natural sunscreen and prevent sunburn. On top of the head sit two bony structures called ossicones which are covered by thick skin and have dark hair on the tips. These can be used during fights to club its opponent. Bulls usually have an extra ossicone present that is located on their head in between the eyes.[9] Although considered lanky, when galloping they have been recorded to reach speeds of almost 40 miles per hour.[2]

Conservation

Masai giraffes are considered endangered by the IUCN,[1] and the Masai giraffe population declined 52% in recent decades due to poaching and habitat loss. Overall, the approximate number of all populations accumulate to 32,550 in the wild. Demographic studies of wild giraffes living inside and outside protected areas suggest low adult survival outside protected areas due to poaching, and low calf survival inside protected areas due to predation are the primary influences on population growth rates.[10][11] Survival of giraffe calves is influenced by the season of birth,[12] and the seasonal local presence or absence of long-distance migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra.[13] Metapopulation analysis indicated protected areas were important for keeping giraffes in the larger landscape.[14] In situ conservation of Masai giraffes is being done by several government agencies including Kenya Wildlife Service, Tanzania National Parks, Zambia Wildlife Authority; and non-governmental organizations including PAMS Foundation, and Wild Nature Institute. Community-based wildlife conservation areas have also been shown to be effective at protecting giraffes.[15][16] Over 100 Masai Giraffe currently live under human care in AZA accredited zoos in the United States.[17] At several zoos, Masai giraffe cows have become pregnant and successfully given birth.[18] Masai giraffes have been known to suffer from giraffe skin disease (GSD) which is an undetermined disorder that etiologically causes lesion on the forelimbs of Masai giraffes. This disorder is being further investigated by scientists to better understand mortality rates in this species.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Bolger, D.; Ogutu, J.; Strauss, M.; Lee, D.; Muneza, A.; Fennessy, J.; Brown, D. (2019). "Giraffa camelopardalis ssp. tippelskirchi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T88421036A88421121. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T88421036A88421121.en. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b Kennedy, Adam Scott (2014). Animals of the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Vicki Kennedy. Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN 1-4008-5138-6. OCLC 873760148.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ IUCN (2016). "Giraffa camelopardalis: Muller, Z., Bercovitch, F., Brand, R., Brown, D., Brown, M., Bolger, D., Carter, K., Deacon, F., Doherty, J.B., Fennessy, J., Fennessy, S., Hussein, A.A., Lee, D., Marais, A., Strauss, M., Tutchings, A. & Wube, T.". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t9194a51140239.en.
  4. ^ Bercovitch, Fred B.; Berry, Philip S. M.; Dagg, Anne; Deacon, Francois; Doherty, John B.; Lee, Derek E.; Mineur, Frédéric; Muller, Zoe; Ogden, Rob (2017-02-20). "How many species of giraffe are there?". Current Biology. 27 (4): R136 – R137. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.12.039. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 28222287.
  5. ^ Petzold, Alice; Hassanin, Alexandre (2020-02-13). "A comparative approach for species delimitation based on multiple methods of multi-locus DNA sequence analysis: A case study of the genus Giraffa (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla)". PLOS ONE. 15 (2): e0217956. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217956. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 7018015. PMID 32053589.
  6. ^ a b Dagg, A.I.; Foster, J. B. (1982). The Giraffe. Its Biology, Behavior, and Ecology (with updated supplementary material). Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company.
  7. ^ Brown, David M.; Brenneman, Rick A.; Koepfli, Klaus-Peter; Pollinger, John P.; Milá, Borja; Georgiadis, Nicholas J.; Louis, Edward E.; Grether, Gregory F.; Jacobs, David K. (2007-12-21). "Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe". BMC Biology. 5 (1): 57. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-5-57. ISSN 1741-7007. PMC 2254591. PMID 18154651.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  8. ^ Fennessy J.; Bidon T.; Reuss F.; Kumar V.; Elkan P.; Nilsson M.A.; Vamberger M.; Fritz U.; Janke A. (2016). "Multi-locus Analyses Reveal Four Giraffe Species Instead of One". Current Biology. 26 (18): 2543–2549. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.036. PMID 27618261.
  9. ^ Williams, Edgar Mark (2010). Giraffe. London: Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-764-0. OCLC 587198932.
  10. ^ Lee, Derek E.; Bond, Monica L.; Kissui, Bernard M.; Kiwango, Yustina A.; Bolger, Douglas T. (2016-05-11). "Spatial variation in giraffe demography: a test of 2 paradigms". Journal of Mammalogy. 97 (4): 1015–1025. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw086. ISSN 0022-2372.
  11. ^ Lee, D. E.; Strauss, M. K. L (2016-01-01). Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.09721-9. ISBN 9780124095489.
  12. ^ Lee, Derek Edward; Bond, Monica Louise; Bolger, Douglas Thomas (2017-01-01). "Season of birth affects juvenile survival of giraffe". Population Ecology. 59 (1): 45–54. doi:10.1007/s10144-017-0571-8. ISSN 1438-3896. S2CID 7611046.
  13. ^ Lee, Derek E.; Kissui, Bernard M.; Kiwango, Yustina A.; Bond, Monica L. (2016). "Migratory herds of wildebeests and zebras indirectly affect calf survival of giraffes". Ecology and Evolution. 6 (23): 8402–8411. doi:10.1002/ece3.2561. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC 5167056. PMID 28031792.
  14. ^ Lee, Derek E.; Bolger, Douglas T. (2017-05-05). "Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation". Population Ecology. 59 (2): 157–168. doi:10.1007/s10144-017-0580-7. ISSN 1438-3896. S2CID 24276021.
  15. ^ Lee, Derek E; Bond, Monica L (2018-02-26). "Quantifying the ecological success of a community-based wildlife conservation area in Tanzania". Journal of Mammalogy. 99 (2): 459–464. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy014. ISSN 0022-2372. PMC 5965405. PMID 29867255.
  16. ^ Lee, Derek E. (2018-08-10). "Evaluating conservation effectiveness in a Tanzanian community wildlife management area". The Journal of Wildlife Management. 82 (8): 1767–1774. doi:10.1002/jwmg.21549. ISSN 0022-541X.
  17. ^ Monson, Michael L.; Dennis, Patricia M.; Lukas, Kristen E.; Krynak, Katherine L.; Carrino-Kyker, Sarah R.; Burke, David J.; Schook, Mandi W. (2018). "The effects of increased hay-to-grain ratio on behavior, metabolic health measures, and fecal bacterial communities in four Masai giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo". Zoo Biology. 37 (5): 320–331. doi:10.1002/zoo.21434.
  18. ^ Gregory, Kim Lamb (May 10, 2014). "Mothers' nature in the animal world" Ventura County Star
  19. ^ Lee, Derek E.; Bond, Monica L. (July 2016). "The Occurrence and Prevalence of Giraffe Skin Disease in Protected Areas of Northern Tanzania". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 52 (3): 753–755. doi:10.7589/2015-09-247. ISSN 0090-3558 – via Science citation index.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Masai_giraffe&oldid=1085783566"