The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. The Cape giraffe, along with the whole species, were first known by the binomenCamelopardalis giraffadescribed by GermannaturalistJohann Christian Daniel von Schreber in his publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen during his travel in the Cape of Good Hope in 1784. Although, it is also stated that Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert described and given the binomial name Giraffa giraffa whilst also identifying the nominate specimen of said species under the ternary nameGiraffa camelopardalis giraffa in 1785. Following Schreber's description of the South African giraffe, several specimens were described by other naturalists and zoologists since the end of the 18th century under different scientific names, which are all considered synonyms of Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa today:
G. giraffa capensis by Lesson, 1842
G. giraffa australis by Rhoads, 1896
G. giraffa wardi by Lydekker, 1904
G. giraffa infumata by Noack, 1808
Descriptions
The South African giraffe has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed.
Distribution and habitat
The South African giraffe is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and south-western Mozambique. After local extinctions in various places, the South African giraffes have been reintroduced in many parts of Southern Africa, including in Swaziland. They are common in both in and outside of protected areas. South African giraffes usually live in savannahs and woodlands where food plants are available. Giraffes are herbivorous animals. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia.
The South African giraffes are not very common in captivity. As of 2010, there are around 45 giraffes breeding in zoos. Due to a drastic decrease in the South African Giraffe population, it has been discovered that approximately 12,000 of privately owned farms, ranches, and national parks maintain the affected giraffe populations, in which they are commonly distributed across these private areas rather than their own habitat.