What is the function of a giraffe's tail? What subspecies are there?

Giraffes, also known as unicorns, unicorns and long-necked deer, are ruminant cloven-hoofed animals living in Africa and the tallest land animal in the world. They can reach six to eight meters when standing, and even newborn cubs are 1.5 meters tall. Giraffes have very long tongues, which are good for food intake and feed mainly on leaves and twigs. Let's take a look at what the giraffe's tail does. What subspecies are there?

What is the function of a giraffe's tail?

The giraffe's tail has the function of maintaining body balance. Giraffes have short tails with black tufts at the end. Compared to their body length, giraffes look shorter. Because the giraffe moves slowly and does not need a long tail to balance the body at a rapid pace, the proportion of the tail is relatively small.

The giraffe's tail can also convey information and is a tool for tipping off. When meeting an enemy, the giraffe will hold its tail high, which means to tell its companions that there is danger here, do not come near, and must leave immediately.

What are the subspecies of giraffes?

1. Angora subspecies of giraffe

Giraffe Angora subspecies, also known as Angora giraffe and smoke giraffe, live in the savanna of Africa, such as Angola, the Cunene River, Zambia and northern Namibia. The subspecies of giraffe Angora is a herbivore that feeds on leaves and twigs.

The population trend of giraffe in Angola is stable, so it is evaluated as a species without survival crisis.

2. Cordofan subspecies of giraffe

The fur color pattern of giraffe Cordofan subspecies has spots and reticulation patterns, which are smaller and irregular, covering the inside of the leg. The subspecies of giraffe Kordofan is mainly distributed in the west and southwest of Sudan and Kordofan.

3. Giraffe named subspecies

Both males and females of the named subspecies of giraffes have a pair of small short horns with outer skin and fluffy hair on the top of their heads, with a light brown background that will not take off for the rest of their lives.

4. West African subspecies of giraffe

Giraffes with yellowish spots on the fur of the West African subspecies are found at the junction of the Niger and Benue rivers, Nigeria and Chad.

5. Somali subspecies of giraffe

The Somali subspecies of giraffe has large polygonal brown spots with bright white reticulation. The spots are sometimes crimson and can spread to the feet and are the most common giraffes in zoos. The giraffe Somaria species lives in arid and open savannas, inhabiting savannas, woodlands and seasonal floodplains.

6. Ugandan subspecies of giraffe

The Ugandan giraffe subspecies, also known as the Ugandan giraffe, Roche giraffe, Rothschild giraffe and Balingo giraffe, has dark brown spots, fuzzy reticulation and sometimes spotted lower limbs. The Ugandan subspecies of giraffe are mainly distributed in Uganda, north-central Kenya and western Ethiopia.