Angolan giraffe
{{Short description|Subspecies of southern giraffe}}
{{subspeciesbox
| name = Angolan giraffe
| image = Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis.jpg
| image_caption = An individual in the savannahs of Etosha National Park, Namibia.
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Giraffa
| species = giraffa
| species_link = Giraffe
| subspecies = angolensis
| authority = Lydekker, 1903
| range_map = Giraffa camelopardis distribution 2018.png
| range_map_caption = Range in maroon
}}
The Angolan giraffe (Giraffa angolensis{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3uZtA1ZpTAC&q=ungulate+taxonomy&pg=PP2|title=Ungulate Taxonomy|last1=Groves|first1=Colin|last2=Grubb|first2=Peter|year=2011|pages=68–70|publisher=JHU Press|isbn=9781421400938|language=en}} or Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis or Giraffa giraffa angolensis), also known as the Namibian giraffe or smokey giraffe, is a species or subspecies of giraffe that is found in northern Namibia, south-western Zambia, Botswana, western Zimbabwe and since mid-2023 again in Angola.[https://www.npr.org/2023/07/11/1187035189/for-the-first-time-in-decades-angolan-giraffes-now-populate-a-park-in-angola For the first time in decades, Angolan giraffes now populate a park in Angola], Megan Lim, NPR, 2023-07-11
Taxonomy
A 2009 genetic study on this subspecies suggests the northern Namib Desert and Etosha National Park populations each form a separate subspecies. However, genetic studies based on mitochondrial DNA do not support the division into two subspecies.,{{Cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=David M|last2=Brenneman|first2=Rick A|last3=Koepfli|first3=Klaus-Peter|last4=Pollinger|first4=John P|last5=Milá|first5=Borja|last6=Georgiadis|first6=Nicholas J|last7=Louis|first7=Edward E|last8=Grether|first8=Gregory F|last9=Jacobs|first9=David K|date=2007|title=Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe|journal=BMC Biology|language=En|volume=5|issue=1|pages=57|doi=10.1186/1741-7007-5-57|issn=1741-7007|pmc=2254591|pmid=18154651 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal|last1=Winter|first1=Sven|last2=Fennessy|first2=Julian|last3=Fennessy|first3=Stephanie|last4=Janke|first4=Axel|date=2018|title=Matrilineal population structure and distribution of the Angolan giraffe in the Namib desert and beyond|journal=Ecological Genetics and Genomics|volume=7-8|pages=1–5|doi=10.1016/j.egg.2018.03.003|s2cid=90395544|issn=2405-9854}} but could identify giraffes in southern Zimbabwe as the Angolan giraffe, suggesting a further eastward distribution than expected.
Description
This subspecies has large brown blotches with edges that are either somewhat notched or have angular extensions. The spotting pattern extends throughout the legs but not the upper part of the face. The neck and rump patches tend to be fairly small. The subspecies also has a white ear patch.
Habitat
Home range size of Angolan giraffes was found to be larger in unproductive areas such as the Namib Desert and much smaller in more productive areas such as Lake Manyara National Park.{{Cite journal|last1=Flanagan|first1=S. E.|last2=Brown|first2=M. B.|last3=Fennessy|first3=J.|last4=Bolger|first4=D. T.|year=2016|title=Use of home range behaviour to assess establishment in translocated giraffes|journal=African Journal of Ecology|volume=54|issue=3|pages=365–374|doi=10.1111/aje.12299}} However, that home range size could be affected by abiotic(e.g climate), biotic(e.g forage availability, predator densities) and human influence(e.g population growth).{{cite journal |last1=Fennessy |first1=Julian |title=Home range and seasonal movements of Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis in the northern Namib Desert |journal=African Journal of Ecology |date=September 2009 |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=318–327 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2008.00963.x}}
== Seasonal movement ==
As far as seasonal movements of giraffes were concerned, they were not as distinctive as those in other giraffe populations around the world. Male giraffe moves longer than female giraffe and also it has longer average daily movement (5.64km compared to 1.87km in 180 days during hot-dry season). {{cite journal |last1=Fennessy |first1=Julian |title=Home range and seasonal movements of Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis in the northern Namib Desert |journal=African Journal of Ecology |date=September 2009 |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=318–327 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2008.00963.x}}
== Foraged activity ==
Angolan Giraffe tends to forage into the mountain during the cold-dry and early hot-dry season. It mainly eats Commiphora for living.{{cite journal |last1=Fennessy |first1=Julian |title=Home range and seasonal movements of Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis in the northern Namib Desert |journal=African Journal of Ecology |date=September 2009 |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=318–327 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2008.00963.x}}
Conservation
Approximately 13,000 animals are estimated to remain in the wild;{{Cite journal|last1=Fennessy|first1=Julian|last2=Bidon|first2=Tobias|last3=Reuss|first3=Friederike|last4=Kumar|first4=Vikas|last5=Elkan|first5=Paul|last6=Nilsson|first6=Maria A.|last7=Vamberger|first7=Melita|last8=Fritz|first8=Uwe|last9=Janke|first9=Axel|date=2016|title=Multi-locus Analyses Reveal Four Giraffe Species Instead of One|journal=Current Biology|volume=26|issue=18|pages=2543–2549|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.036|pmid=27618261|issn=0960-9822|doi-access=free}} and about 20 are kept in zoos.
Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis (courting).jpg|Courting
Etosha National Park
Angolan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) male head composite.jpg|Male
Etosha National Park
Angolan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) female head.jpg|Female
Etosha National Park
Angolan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) female with young 2 months.jpg|Female with young 2 months
Chobe National Park
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Giraffa giraffa angolensis}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis|Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1093830}}
Category:Mammals of Southern Africa
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