Are southern giraffes a single species or part of a larger, complex family tree?

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long considered a single species, the southern giraffe is now increasingly recognized as a distinct entity within a reorganized genus. These iconic, long-necked mammals roam the savannahs of Southern Africa, sporting unique, star-like coat patterns. While their broader family faces conservation challenges, the southern population is currently seeing a promising recovery.

The classification of the giraffe has undergone significant shifts since Carl Linnaeus first grouped all living giraffes under the name Cervus camelopardalis in 1758. By 1772, Morten Thrane Brünnich established the genus Giraffa. While historically viewed as a subspecies of a single, conglomerate species, recent scientific research has proposed the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) as a separate species. This shift is part of a broader reclassification by the IUCN, which now recognizes four distinct species of giraffe, each with its own subspecies, reflecting a more nuanced understanding of their evolutionary history.

Physically, the southern giraffe is distinguished by its rounded or blotched spots, which often feature star-like extensions on a light tan background. These markings extend all the way down to their hooves, with the spots becoming progressively smaller on the legs. As the tallest land animals, males can exceed 5.5 meters, or 18 feet, in height, while females typically reach around 4.5 meters, or 15 feet. They are specialized herbivores, utilizing long, prehensile tongues to browse on leaves, flowers, fruits, and shoots from woody plants, particularly acacia, at heights up to 6 meters, or 20 feet.

The southern giraffe’s range spans across South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Their population, estimated between 44,500 and 50,000 individuals, is currently increasing, a positive trend that contrasts with the broader IUCN classification of giraffes as Vulnerable to extinction. This vulnerability, designated in 2016, is largely driven by habitat loss and illegal hunting across the continent. Despite these pressures, southern giraffes remain common both within and outside protected areas. Conservation efforts have been robust, with successful reintroductions in regions like Eswatini, Malawi’s Majete Game Reserve, and various national parks in Mozambique and Angola, including the Iona National Park, where efforts began in 2023.

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