Data from: Multi-locus analyses reveal four giraffe species instead of one

Traditionally, one giraffe species and up to eleven subspecies have been
recognized [ 1 ]; however, nine subspecies are commonly accepted [ 2 ].
Even after a century of research, the distinctness of each giraffe
subspecies remains unclear, and the genetic variation across their
distribution range has been incompletely explored. Recent genetic studies
on mtDNA have shown reciprocal monophyly of the matrilines among seven of
the nine assumed subspecies [ 3, 4 ]. Moreover, until now, genetic
analyses have not been applied to biparentally inherited sequence data and
did not include data from all nine giraffe subspecies. We sampled natural
giraffe populations from across their range in Africa, and for the first
time individuals from the nominate subspecies, the Nubian giraffe, Giraffa
camelopardalis camelopardalis Linnaeus 1758 [ 5 ], were included in a
genetic analysis. Coalescence-based multi-locus and population genetic
analyses identify at least four separate and monophyletic clades, which
should be recognized as four distinct giraffe species under the genetic
isolation criterion. Analyses of 190 individuals from maternal and
biparental markers support these findings and further suggest subsuming
Rothschild’s giraffe into the Nubian giraffe, as well as Thornicroft’s
giraffe into the Masai giraffe [ 6 ]. A giraffe survey genome produced
valuable data from microsatellites, mobile genetic elements, and accurate
divergence time estimates. Our findings provide the most inclusive
analysis of giraffe relationships to date and show that their genetic
complexity has been underestimated, highlighting the need for greater
conservation efforts for the world’s tallest mammal.