TheMasai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi[2]), also spelledMaasai giraffe, and sometimes called theKilimanjaro giraffe, is a species or subspecies ofgiraffe. It is native toEast Africa. The Masai giraffe can be found in central and southernKenya and inTanzania andUganda. It has distinctive jagged, irregular leaf-like blotches that extend from the hooves to its head. The Masai giraffe is currently the national animal of Tanzania.[3]
The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies[1][4][5] The Masai giraffe wasdescribed and given thebinomial nameGiraffa tippelskirchi byGermanzoologistPaul Matschie in 1898, but current taxonomy refers to Masai giraffe asGiraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi. The Masai giraffe was named in honor of Herr von Tippelskirch, who was a member of a German scientific expedition inGerman East Africa to what is now northern Tanzania in 1896. Tippelskirch brought back the skin of a female Masai giraffe from nearLake Eyasi which was later on identified asGiraffa tippelskirchi. Alternative taxonomic hypotheses have proposed Masai giraffe may be its own species.[6]
The Masai giraffe is distinguished by jagged and irregular spots on its body. Its geographic range includes various parts of eastern Africa.[7][8][9] It is the largest-bodied giraffe species, making it the tallest land animal on Earth.[7] Bulls are generally larger and heavier than cows, weighing close to 1,300 kilograms (2,900 pounds) and growing up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in height. In the wild, individuals can live to be around 30 years of age, and in most cases can live longer in captivity.[10] The Masai giraffe's most famous feature, its neck, contains sevenvertebrae and makes up roughly one third of its body height. Its long and muscular tongue, which can be up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in length, is prehensile and allows it to grab leaves from tall trees that are inaccessible to other animals. The tongue's darker pigment is believed to function as a natural sunscreen and prevent sunburn. On top of the head are two bony structures calledossicones 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 between the eyes.[11] When galloping, the Masai giraffe has been recorded to reach speeds of almost 64 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour).[3]
Masai giraffes are consideredendangered by theIUCN,[1] and the Masai giraffe population declined 52% in recent decades due to poaching and habitat loss. The population amounts 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; these are the primary influences on population growth rates.[12][13] Survival of giraffe calves is influenced by the season of birth[14] and the seasonal local presence or absence of long-distance migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra.[15] Metapopulation analysis indicated protected areas were important for keeping giraffes in the larger landscape.[16]
Over 100 Masai giraffe live under human care inAZA accredited zoos in the United States.[19] At several zoos, Masai giraffe cows have become pregnant and successfully given birth.[20]
Masai giraffes can suffer from giraffe skin disease, which is a disorder of unknown etiology that causes lesion on the forelimbs. This disorder is being further investigated to better understand mortality in this species.[21]
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Media related toMasai giraffe at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toGiraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi at Wikispecies