A groundbreaking assessment has officially recognised four distinct giraffe species, overturning previous classifications of the world’s tallest land mammal as a single species. The taxonomic review, undertaken by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) Taxonomic Task Force, marks a major milestone in the giraffe taxonomy and reshapes how giraffe diversity is understood and conserved.
Historically, giraffe (Giraffa spp.) has been classified as a single species with nine subspecies, but they have long been the subject of taxonomic uncertainty. In response to growing scientific evidence and the urgent need for clearer conservation planning, the GOSG launched a Taxonomic Task Force in 2024 to comprehensively review the latest genetic, morphological and biogeographical data.
“This landmark taxonomic revision by the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group reflects the best available science and provides a globally standardised framework to inform conservation,” said Michael Brown, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group and Conservation Science Coordinator for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and one of the co-authors of the assessment.
“Recognising these four species is vital not only for accurate IUCN Red List assessments, targeted conservation action and coordinated management across national borders. The more precisely we understand giraffe taxonomy, the better equipped we are to assess their status and implement effective conservation strategies,” added Brown.
The Task Force evaluated extensive genetic data from multiple peer-reviewed studies, many of which investigated giraffe genetics, making giraffe among the most genetically well-studied large mammal taxa in Africa. Analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA consistently revealed large differences between several giraffe lineages, supporting the recognition of multiple species. Complementing the genetic work, the review also incorporated studies of morphological differentiation, including notable differences in skull structure and bone shape across regions.
Biogeographic assessments also considered the role of natural barriers – such as major rivers, rift valleys and arid zones – that could have contributed to evolutionary isolation. Together, these multiple lines of evidence provide scientific support for elevating certain giraffe populations to full species status, reflecting their distinct evolutionary histories.
The resulting report recognises four distinct giraffe species, with several recognised subspecies, each with important conservation implications:
- Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
- West African giraffe (G. c. peralta)
- Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum)
- Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis)
- Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata)
- Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi)
- Masai giraffe (G. t. tippelskirchi)
- Luangwa/Thornicroft’s giraffe (G. t. thornicrofti)
- Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)
- South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa)
- Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis)
Recognising four species leads to a more nuanced understanding of the unique conservation threats and opportunities that these different taxa face across the diverse regions of Africa that they inhabit.
The taxonomic update will now guide upcoming IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessments and influence national and international conservation policies aimed at halting giraffe decline.
The GOSG emphasises that taxonomy is an evolving science. As new evidence emerges, the group will continue to reassess classifications to ensure conservation strategies remain grounded in the most up-to-date understanding of giraffe diversity.
IUCN World Conservation Congress – less than two months away
The report comes less than two months ahead of the IUCN World Conservation Congress (October 9 to 15, 2025) in Abu Dhabi. The Congress is one of the world’s largest and most inclusive nature conservation forums.
It will convene decision-makers from government, civil society, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, academia, and business to advance and set the conservation and sustainable development agenda for decades to come.