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Food Selection by Transvaal lowveld giraffe as determined by analysis of stomach contents

Food selection by giraffe in the Transvaal lowveld was studied by identifying plant fragments from stomach contents over a 1 year period. Large fragments were randomly taken from the material while small fragments were taken from a 50 ml sample. Identifications were based on diagnostic keys and over 8000 fragments were classified. The validity of the samples was tested and found to be satisfactory. Giraffe were found to subsist mainly on leaves of trees and shrubs. Fruit, flowers and twigs

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Ovarian progestins in Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Gonadal progestins from fetal, juvenile, pregnant and non-pregnant Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) were extracted, purified by TLC and measured by GLC or by competitive protein-binding assay. Progesterone was found in fetal ovaries and in a fibrotic CL from a nearterm fetus as well as in CL from juvenile animals. In pregnant animals, luteal progesterone probably increased with the duration of gestation. The values of 20β-hydroxyprogesterone were higher in juvenile giraffes than in the fetus or during early pregnancy. No 20β-hydroxyprogesterone

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Giraffa Camelopardalis

An overview on Giraffa camelopardalis including information on diagnosis/general characteristics, distribution, fossil record, form, function, ontogeny and reproduction, ecology, behavior, and genetics.

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Winning by a neck – Sexual selection in the evolution of giraffe

A classic example of extreme morphological adaptation to the environment is the neck of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), a trait that most biologists since Darwin have attributed to competition with other mammalian browsers. However, in searching for present-day evidence for the maintenance of the long neck, we find that during the dry season (when feeding competition should be most intense) giraffe generally feed from low shrubs, not tall trees; females spend over 50% of their time feeding with their necks

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Population statistics and carrying capacity of large ungulates in Whovi Wild Area, Rhodes Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe Rhodesia

Population data for introduced large ungulates, are presented to demonstrate population growth in terms of numbers and biomass in the Whovi Wild Area of the Rhodes Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Peak calving in relation to food requirements of different species is discussed. Standing crop of large ungulates was calculated and compared with carrying capacity as predicted by Coe et al. (1976)

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Dentition and age determination of the giraffe Giraffa Camelopardalis

Thirteen tooth eruption stages and their corresponding chronological ages are described from a series of giraffe jaws. These can be used for age determination in giraffes with immature dentition. Significant correlations of the lingual crown height ( r=0.957; P<0.001) and lingual occlusal surface width (r=0.959; P<0.001) with the number of dark staining incremental lines in the cementum of thin decalcified sections of the maxillary first molar were found. The regression equations derived from these relationships provide a further method for

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