Species of Giraffes

     There are six main giraffe species. There are several subspecies also. The type of giraffe is determined by their coat patterns. The six main species are the Rothschild, the Nigerian, the Reticulated, the Maasai, the Southern, and the Kordofan.
     The Rothschild giraffe is an endangered species. Their coat of dark patches and white undercoat is what makes them easy to identify. The Nigerian giraffe is also known as the West African Giraffe. Their spots are lighter than others. The Reticulated giraffe can grow up to 19 feet tall. This species has a very long black tongue and can live up to 25 years. The Maasai giraffe has jagged cream colored spots all over their body. Some males have darker spots than others. The Southern giraffe is found in Africa and can weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Some males have very dark patches and females have brown or chestnut patches. Lastly, the Kordofan giraffe is mostly found in Sudan. This species has a variety of coat patterns.

 Maasai Giraffe

Nigerian Giraffe 

Kordofan Giraffe 

Reticulated Giraffe 

 Rothschild Giraffe

 Southern Giraffe