How to Identify Giraffidae

Key Identification Features

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognizes four distinct giraffe species, with multiple accepted subspecies of giraffe.
• The Masai giraffe, scientifically named Giraffa tippelskirchi Matschie, 1898, can be identified by the jagged, irregular spots covering its body.
• The most well-known feature of the Masai giraffe is its neck, which holds seven vertebrae and makes up roughly one-third of the animal's total body height.
• These distinct liver-red spots also have far less white space between them than spots on other giraffe species.

For instant identification in the field, use the iNature app — AI-powered, works offline.