Long-necked giraffes are known for their elongated necks and distinctive spots on their skin, which serve as important features beyond just aesthetics. These spots not only add beauty to the giraffes but also serve as vital tools for their survival.
According to a report from Live Science, one of the reasons giraffes have spots is for camouflage, helping them blend into their surroundings. The irregular spots disrupt their outlines, especially when sunlight filters through trees and shrubbery, making it difficult for them to be detected even from a few feet away despite their large size.
The spots on giraffes are also linked to the vegetation in their surroundings. Some researchers have observed that the shape of the giraffe’s spots often corresponds to the branching patterns of acacia trees commonly found in the African savanna.
Camouflage is particularly crucial for young giraffes as their survival heavily relies on evading predators. A study conducted in 2018 found that giraffe calves with larger, rounder spots had better camouflage, increasing their chances of survival.
The study also suggested that certain characteristics of giraffe spot patterns can be hereditary, as the patterns of spots on giraffe mothers and calves are remarkably similar.
Giraffe spots also play a role in regulating body temperature. Despite living in hot climates, giraffes do not sweat or pant, using their spots to dissipate heat.
Beneath each spot lies a dense network of blood vessels. When giraffes need to cool down, these vessels dilate, allowing blood to flow closer to the skin’s surface, where heat can be released.
Research indicates that the size of giraffe spots is climate-dependent. Larger spots seem advantageous in colder climates as the blood vessels beneath the spots can constrict to preserve heat. Conversely, smaller spots are beneficial in hotter climates as they absorb less heat from the sun.
Monica Bond, a wildlife biologist at the University of Zurich, mentioned that giraffe spots also aid in distinguishing relatives, as observed in a study analyzing the spot characteristics of Masai giraffes in northern Tanzania.
The study found that Masai giraffes establish stronger social relationships with giraffes that have fur patterns similar to their own, revealing that spot patterns can serve as visual clues for identifying kin.
A study from 2017 showed that spot patterns in mammals often reflect overall health and social status, influencing mate selection. While this may apply to giraffes, direct research is still needed to confirm this, according to Bond.
Interestingly, Brights Zoo in Tennessee, USA, welcomed a spotless reticulated giraffe in 2023, a rare occurrence in giraffe populations worldwide.
As previously reported by Dajiyuan, this giraffe lacks the characteristic spots seen on reticulated giraffes, displaying a unique pure brown fur color, believed to be the only known spotless reticulated giraffe in the world to date.
(Click here to view an image of this spotless giraffe)