Reticulated Giraffe

The Reticulated Giraffe, also known as the Somali Giraffe, is a member of the genus Giraffa, which includes all living giraffes. This genus represents the tallest living land animal, reaching up to 5.5m (18ft) tall, with males being taller than females. Its most distinguishing features are its long neck and legs, which allows it to reach food from the top of high trees, which most other animals cannot get to. They mainly eat leaves, using their 18 inch long dark-purple tongues - believed to be this colour to protect it from the sun - to grab leaves whilst avoiding any thorns. The reticulated giraffe, identified by its large reddish-brown spots and white body, is native to Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and can be found primarily in wooded savannah.

The taxonomy of giraffes, including the reticulated giraffe, is unclear. Traditionally, there are considered to be nine subspecies of giraffe, but evidence has suggested there may be four distinct species of giraffe. Under this taxonomy, the reticulated giraffe is its own species separate from all other giraffes, although other scientists have suggested it may be a subspecies of Northern Giraffe. Although the reticulated giraffe is one of the most commonly kept types of giraffe in captivity, it is now considered endangered in the wild.*