Cientistas batem o martelo: existem quatro espécies de girafa

Girafas não são todas iguais. Cientistas confirmaram que existem quatro espécies distintas desses mamíferos africanos.

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Por mais de 260 anos, acreditava-se que havia apenas uma espécie, com nove subespécies distribuídas pelo continente.

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A revisão foi publicada pela União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) em agosto de 2025.

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Estudos de DNA revelaram que as girafas se dividem em quatro grupos, separados há pelo menos 280 mil anos.

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Pesquisas anatômicas também identificaram diferenças importantes nos crânios entre girafas de regiões distintas.

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Agora a ciência reconhece quatro espécies: girafa-do-norte, girafa-reticulada, girafa-de-Masai e girafa-do-sul.

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A girafa-do-norte vive do Sudão do Sul ao Níger; a reticulada entre Quênia e Etiópia; e a de Masai no leste africano.

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A girafa-do-sul habita a África do Sul e países vizinhos — é a mais numerosa e parece não estar em risco.

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As outras três espécies enfrentam situações mais delicadas, o que torna urgente avaliar seu status de conservação.

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