Question: Northern, Southern, Reticulated and Masai are the four species of which animal?
Show answer
The giraffe.
Northern, Southern, Reticulated, and Masai are all recognized subspecies of the giraffe, the world’s tallest land animal. Native to Africa, giraffes are well-known for their towering height and long necks, features that have allowed them to adapt to a lifestyle of feeding on the leaves, twigs, and fruits of tall trees that other herbivores cannot reach.
- The Northern Giraffe, found in the Sahel regions of West and Central Africa, is further divided into three subspecies: the Kordofan, Nubian, and West African giraffe.
- The Southern Giraffe is found mainly in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. It has two subspecies: the Angolan and South African giraffe.
- The Reticulated Giraffe, also known as the Somali Giraffe, is native to Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. It is distinctive due to its polygonal patches outlined by white lines, giving it a ‘netted’ appearance, which is what ‘reticulated’ means.
- The Masai Giraffe, also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffe, is found in Tanzania and central and southern Kenya. It has jagged-edged, irregular, dark brown patches on its body.
Giraffes are unique and fascinating creatures. However, they face threats from habitat loss and poaching. Various conservation efforts are in place to protect these magnificent animals and their ecosystems.
