Masai giraffe

Maasai Giraffe in Hell's Gate National Park, Kenya

The Masai giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi ) is a subspecies of giraffe.

Features

Males grow up to 6 meters high, with a shoulder height of up to 3.5 meters. The females are slightly smaller and usually lighter. The pattern of the coat consists of dark spots that stand out from the lighter color. The spots are the heat output. In subcutaneous tissue extending around each patch, an annular artery branches into the emitting spots inside. About a stronger blood flow can give the giraffe so more heat and is not dependent on the shade.

In the Maasai and reticulated giraffes, each individual has its own characteristic coat pattern by which it differs from all other congeners. The Masai giraffe has particularly far apart on lying and frayed star spots. The spots have strongly divided edges. The notched fielding reminds partly on grape leaves ( the giraffe is therefore also called grape leaf - giraffe). The color of the spots range from light brown to nearly black.

Dissemination

The species is native to the south-east of Africa in the grasslands and bush savannah in southern Kenya and Tanzania.

Nutrition

The giraffes feed on leaves, buds, shoots and grasses, as well as salt and mineral- earth. They graze preferred treetops. The animals grab a branch with her tongue, pulling it into his mouth and strip by pulling back of the head from the leaves.

Zoos

The Masai giraffe was until the mid 20th century the dominant subspecies in zoos in Germany. In 1969, she was held in Basel, Berlin Zoo, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, Leipzig and Munich. This has changed in the last 50 years. The end of 2009 were held Masai giraffes only in the Zoo Basel in Europe.

Gallery

Coat pattern

Hoof

Females with cubs