Reticulated Giraffe

scientific name

Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata

size

Height. male up to 18' " female 13-15'
Weight. male 1765-4255 lbs. " female 1215-2600 lbs.
Tail Length. maximum 3'

characteristics

Adaptations/Coloration. Color & pattern vary between individuals & sub-species (not accurate way to differentiate sub-species) " pattern identifies individual " chestnut patches large & regular in reticulated subspecies " narrow white lines separate
Hide. thick
Horns. one of few ruminants born with horns " present on both sexes (male slightly larger) " covered with skin " lie flat at birth " become upright & bony 1st week
Legs. forelegs longer than hindlegs (slopes toward rear)
Neck. height requires that series of valves regulate flow of blood to head
Senses. sight most developed " hearing & smell very acute
Tail. may have hair tassel " tuft used as fly swatter
Vertebrae. 7 mammalian cervical but elongated " 4th & 5th thoracic have large, forward-facing dorsal spines (the conspicuous shoulder hump) " serve as neck muscles attachment point
Voice. normally silent " can produce variety grunts & snorts " calves bleat

behavior

Defense. head & horns used in fights between males " serious injury rare " strong hooves
Feeding. sexes differ " very specific " males eat tree canopy with neck outstretched " females eat neck curved over - body to knee height
Group. herd transitory & scattered " members constantly changing
Social Order. bulls not territorial " bulls coexist in overlapping ranges " hierarchy among males exists " each individual knows status

reproduction/life span

Life span. wild ~25 yrs " captivity record 28 yrs
Birth Site. same site used continuously by many generations " majority of successful breeding by few top males
Calves. begin forming groups 1-2 wks
Predators of Calves. lions (main), African wild dogs, hyenas, & leopards " mortality 1st yr. 58% (but population still increases 5-6% annually)
Gestation. ~15 mos.
Parenting. mom - excellent " defends calf from anyone & anything " leaves calf during heat of day to graze
Sexual Maturity. male ~3½ yrs " female ~5 yrs
Young. twins extremely rare
Birth Interval. ~2 yrs.

diet

Wild. exclusively highly selected browsers, flowers, fruits, herbs, leaves, seeds, new shoots, & vines
Zoo. alfalfa hay & grains

habitat/range

open woodland " wooded grassland " Sub-Saharan Africa

status

not listed " some populations being wiped out in Kenya to provide tourists with fly swatters & bags or buckets

oregon zoo exhibit

Africa Savanna