The Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) is a subspecies of giraffe native to the Horn of Africa. The Reticulated giraffe was described and given its binomial name by British zoologist William Edward de Winton in 1899, however the IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. Together with the Rothschild's giraffe, it is by far the giraffe that is most commonly seen in zoos.
The distinctive coat pattern of the Reticulated giraffe consists of sharp-edged, reddish-brown polygonal patches divided by a network of thin white lines. Spots may or may not extend below the hocks, and a median lump is present in males.
Reticulated giraffes are found in Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. They prefer to live in savannas, woodlands, seasonal floodplains, and rainforests.
Reticulated giraffes are active during the day and the night. They are most active during the early and late parts of the day due to their warmer environment. They spend most of their day feeding, roughly 13 hours/day. Their sleep patterns are usually short, consisting of no more than a couple hours at a time typically standing up. Reticulated giraffes are not territorial and their home ranges usually overlap with other individuals or groups. These home ranges include both males and females and vary in size depending on food resources, gender, and water availability. Reticulated giraffes are usually seen in groups of 3-9, but there are instances of lone individuals. The kinship between females typically drives a group. Females are known to share protection of other young during predation.
Reticulated giraffes are herbivores (folivores) feeding on leaves, shoots, and shrubs. They are ruminant mammals, also known as foregut fermentation, which complements their high-fiber diet.
Giraffes are polygynous, meaning that males mate with multiple females. Usually, males engage in combats, after which the winner gets right to mate with receptive females whenever and wherever it finds them. Reticulated giraffes can breed at any time of the year and during this time dominant males will guard estrus females from other competing males. When the male is ready to breed, he notifies the female by tapping the female's hindleg with his foreleg or by resting his head on the female's back. The gestation period is on average 445-457 days, producing one calf. The occasion of producing two calves is rare but documented. The female will give birth standing up, and the calf will stand up anywhere between 5-20 minutes after birth. Weaning age of the young varies anywhere between 6-17 months, and independence occurs at 2 years old.
The main threats to Reticulated giraffes include habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and poaching.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Reticulated giraffe is 15,785 individuals, or around 11,048 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Giraffes have a great effect on the trees that they feed on, delaying the growth of young trees for some years and giving "waistlines" to too tall trees. In addition, when spotting a predator, they can serve as a warning system for other nearby animals.
