Four Giraffe species, not one

Swampy

Swampy

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)30787-4

A coalescent multi-locus (ML) tree analysis based on individual ML trees distinguishes four clusters: (1) a southern cluster comprising the South African and Angolan giraffe, (2) a Masai cluster corresponding to the Masai giraffe (including Thornicroft’s giraffe [4, 6]), (3) the reticulated giraffe, and (4) a northern cluster including West African, Kordofan, and Nubian giraffe
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the study also suggests that the rothschild's giraffe is subsumed into the Nubian Giraffe
 
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It is far from new that Rotschildt's are included in Nubian giraffe. For the rest this all seems to build on earlier research, but it is interesting to see what will happen with these findings.

I find it more interesting that Thornicroft's giraffe was found to be conspecific with Masai giraffe and is not even given subspecies status.
 
The remaining genetics frontier is to do a full genomic comparison of all of the subspecies to see if there are any meaningful differences between them that have not been revealed by the mtDNA and nuclear DNA comparisons.

The next step is to do a formal taxonomic review to integrate the genetics and the morphology.
 
DavidBrown said:
The remaining genetics frontier is to do a full genomic comparison of all of the subspecies to see if there are any meaningful differences between them that have not been revealed by the mtDNA and nuclear DNA comparisons.

The next step is to do a formal taxonomic review to integrate the genetics and the morphology.
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What are the obstacles to these projects? Funding? Access? Technology?
 
I noticed on last night's BBC news that this item was partly presented from Chester Zoo. It said their (Chester's) Giraffes were 'Reticulated.' Chester's are (currently) Rothschild's, so was that just a mistake, or was this a reference to the new systematics? :confused:
 
nanoboy said:
What are the obstacles to these projects? Funding? Access? Technology?
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Funding primarily. It's very hard to get funding for basic taxonomy research - really for any conservation-related project funding is usually a primary obstacle.
 
Pertinax said:
I noticed on last night's BBC news that this item was partly presented from Chester Zoo. It said their (Chester's) Giraffes were 'Reticulated.' Chester's are (currently) Rothschild's, so was that just a mistake, or was this a reference to the new systematics? :confused:
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was that the bit where the "science reporter" was on the feeding platform? I watched that on one of the news links and it didn't mention either kind of giraffe on the clip I saw.
 
Chlidonias said:
was that the bit where the "science reporter" was on the feeding platform? I watched that on one of the news links and it didn't mention either kind of giraffe on the clip I saw.
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Definately said that about being Reticulated on the version I saw- I said to the T.V. 'no they aren't'.:D
 
Reticulated giraffe looks like most distinct species than other three species of giraffes, at least from outside - the pattern of shapes on the coat.

And Massai giraffe from outside, looks most simmilar to South African giraffes.

Northern giraffes are with more white color, and that is particularly case with Westernmost extreme, the West African giraffe (wich is so sadly that is not represented in captivity, and can florish in).
 
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