Why Reticulated Giraffe instead of other subspecies?

Great Argus

Great Argus

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Been wondering over this, why is the widely recognized subspecies of Giraffe the reticulated? Many zoos hold reticulated or a hybrid with reticulated, not often we see other subspecies. Most models and toys are based on reticulated as well.

Were they the subspecies imported in largest numbers, or simply the easiest pattern to recognize? Or no real apparent reason?
 
Speak for yourself; I'd generally be inclined to say the generic "giraffe" look is closest to that of the Rothschild's :P
 
It's one of the more common subspecies. I'm also inclined to believe that what many zoos list as reticulateds are at minimum a mix of subspecies.
 
TinoPup said:
It's one of the more common subspecies. I'm also inclined to believe that what many zoos list as reticulateds are at minimum a mix of subspecies.
Click to expand...

The last part may be the case in the USA, in Europe there are plenty of pure reticulated giraffes around.

Extensive research has shown that Reticulateds are however better treated as a separate species (one of four in the grnus Giraffa), not a subspecies.
 
lintworm said:
The last part may be the case in the USA, in Europe there are plenty of pure reticulated giraffes around.

Extensive research has shown that Reticulateds are however better treated as a separate species (one of four in the grnus Giraffa), not a subspecies.
Click to expand...

In the UK there are far more Rothschild's groups than Reticulated. I only know of Reticulated groups at Whipsnade, Colchester and Banham(?)plus a single female at Noah's Ark, while all the other many pure groups are Rothschilds.
 
Great Argus said:
Been wondering over this, why is the widely recognized subspecies of Giraffe the reticulated? Many zoos hold reticulated or a hybrid with reticulated, not often we see other subspecies. Most models and toys are based on reticulated as well.

Were they the subspecies imported in largest numbers, or simply the easiest pattern to recognize? Or no real apparent reason?
Click to expand...

The'network' pattern of reticulated is certainly readily identifiable which is perhaps why it is used a lot in merchandising(cuddly toys etc) or perhaps its just the easiest pattern to replicate artwise.
 
Pertinax said:
In the UK there are far more Rothschild's groups than Reticulated. I only know of Reticulated groups at Whipsnade, Colchester and Banham(?)plus a single female at Noah's Ark, while all the other many pure groups are Rothschilds.
Click to expand...

Yorkshire WP have a Reticulated in their bachelor group as well (or is it two? They have a hybrid and then three others that are divided between Reticulated and Rothschild's and I can never remember which one there's two of..!).
 
Why Reticulated? Because zoos thought it is the most beautiful subspecies. Masai giraffe for example often looks "tattered". And in the meantime Reticulated became rather threatened in the wild.
 
Jurek7 said:
Why Reticulated? Because zoos thought it is the most beautiful subspecies. Masai giraffe for example often looks "tattered". And in the meantime Reticulated became rather threatened in the wild.
Click to expand...

It's actually one of the more common in the wild, with Masai, Cape and Angolan being more populous - and the remaining taxa are a LOT more endangered than is Reticulated. So whether or not the "stereotypical" giraffe is a Reticulated, which per my above remark is an opening thesis I'd be inclined to contest, this would be unlikely to be the main factor.
 
Maguari said:
Thanks - for some reason that's one fact that just won't stick in my head!
Click to expand...

On a slight digression, the really fun hybrid herd to see in the UK is the one at Flamingoland - by some happenstance, the four hybrids there display the phenotypes of each pure species respectively :P

Which is probably the closest I'm going to come to seeing a Masai.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
On a slight digression, the really fun hybrid herd to see in the UK is the one at Flamingoland - by some happenstance, the four hybrids there display the phenotypes of each pure species respectively :p

Which is probably the closest I'm going to come to seeing a Masai.
Click to expand...

Are they still split into two herds? Haven't visited in many years but am sure there used to be two separate enclosures, confused me a time or two whilst walking around as was convinced had somehow doubled back on myself. Any idea how many giraffes they hold now?
 
katinakalinakaterina said:
Are they still split into two herds? Haven't visited in many years but am sure there used to be two separate enclosures, confused me a time or two whilst walking around as was convinced had somehow doubled back on myself. Any idea how many giraffes they hold now?
Click to expand...

Yes, they have a pure herd of Rothschild's as well as the herd of hybrids.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Speak for yourself; I'd generally be inclined to say the generic "giraffe" look is closest to that of the Rothschild's :p
Click to expand...

TeaLovingDave said:
It's actually one of the more common in the wild, with Masai, Cape and Angolan being more populous - and the remaining taxa are a LOT more endangered than is Reticulated. So whether or not the "stereotypical" giraffe is a Reticulated, which per my above remark is an opening thesis I'd be inclined to contest, this would be unlikely to be the main factor.
Click to expand...

I would be open to debating that, the two are reasonably similar in pattern. Most of the giraffe merch I see here in the states looks more like Reticulated to me, though some models do look more like Rothschilds. Wonder if there's some continent disparity?

TinoPup said:
It's one of the more common subspecies. I'm also inclined to believe that what many zoos list as reticulateds are at minimum a mix of subspecies.
Click to expand...

lintworm said:
The last part may be the case in the USA, in Europe there are plenty of pure reticulated giraffes around.

Extensive research has shown that Reticulateds are however better treated as a separate species (one of four in the grnus Giraffa), not a subspecies.
Click to expand...

I don't know the history on the USA animals, but I have heard there's a lot of hybrids. Most of what we have is Reticulated and Masai that I'm aware. What zoos in the US actually hold anything other than those two or hybrids thereof?

@lintworm I'm aware, and I do agree with the research elevating the subspecies is the better treatment. I approached it as one here for the simplicity.

Pertinax said:
The'network' pattern of reticulated is certainly readily identifiable which is perhaps why it is used a lot in merchandising(cuddly toys etc) or perhaps its just the easiest pattern to replicate artwise.
Click to expand...

I'd wondered if the simple blocks of the Reticulated were easiest to replicate art wise.
 
Great Argus said:
I don't know the history on the USA animals, but I have heard there's a lot of hybrids. Most of what we have is Reticulated and Masai that I'm aware. What zoos in the US actually hold anything other than those two or hybrids thereof?
Click to expand...

There's quite a few Rothschild's, as well. I don't believe there's any other subspecies in the USA, though that could be wrong.

I refer to them as subspecies instead of species because IUCN, AZA, etc all still do, though I do think there is enough evidence to split them.
 
TinoPup said:
There's quite a few Rothschild's, as well. I don't believe there's any other subspecies in the USA, though that could be wrong.

I refer to them as subspecies instead of species because IUCN, AZA, etc all still do, though I do think there is enough evidence to split them.
Click to expand...

What zoos hold them that you know of?

True...
 
Heh, ironically enough one of the ads on the page right now is one for a plush Reticulated giraffe... :p
 
Great Argus said:
I would be open to debating that, the two are reasonably similar in pattern.
Click to expand...
Reticulated and Rothschild's? No, they look very different indeed. I'm presuming you're only familiar with how they look from the "reticulated" and "Rothschild's" you've seen in American zoos?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top