Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)
Samburu National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
Reticulated giraffe in the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Reticulated means to resemble or form a net or network. As if a net was thrown over the animal creating the pattern.
The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), also known as the Somali giraffe, is a subspecies of giraffe native to Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. Reticulated giraffes can interbreed with other giraffe subspecies in captivity or if they encounter populations of other subspecies in the wild.
The reticulated giraffe is among the most well-known of the seven giraffe subspecies. Its coat consists of large, polygonal, liver-colored spots outlined by a network of bright-white lines. The blocks may sometimes appear deep red and may also cover the legs. The extraordinary height of giraffes is attributed to a ritual known as "necking", where two males fight for reproduction rights by slamming their necks into one another. The giraffes with the tallest and strongest necks are victorious and allowed to reproduce, thus passing these genes on to future generations.
Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)
Samburu National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
Reticulated giraffe in the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Reticulated means to resemble or form a net or network. As if a net was thrown over the animal creating the pattern.
The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), also known as the Somali giraffe, is a subspecies of giraffe native to Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. Reticulated giraffes can interbreed with other giraffe subspecies in captivity or if they encounter populations of other subspecies in the wild.
The reticulated giraffe is among the most well-known of the seven giraffe subspecies. Its coat consists of large, polygonal, liver-colored spots outlined by a network of bright-white lines. The blocks may sometimes appear deep red and may also cover the legs. The extraordinary height of giraffes is attributed to a ritual known as "necking", where two males fight for reproduction rights by slamming their necks into one another. The giraffes with the tallest and strongest necks are victorious and allowed to reproduce, thus passing these genes on to future generations.