A Closer Look

In conclusion of the "debate" about the 2 uniquely African animals - to which subspecies (of giraffe or zebra) they might belong - I thought of concentrating on (or having a closer look at) their coat/fur/hide.

When comparing the fur of this giraffe (photographed in the Pilansberg Game Reserve) . . . 

. . . with this giraffe's (photographed on a private game reserve in Namibia), the colour is very similar but the (pattern of the) spots is quite different.

In contrast this giraffe's spots are similar to those on the hide of the first-closer-look giraffe but the colour of the spots is entirely different (to those of the 2 above)  . . .

. . . whereas the colour of the spots is similar between these 2 (last) giraffe hides (both photographed in the Etosha Game Reserve), the size of the spots vary - especially with regard to more whitish/beige hair "between" the spots on this giraffe's coat . . .

. . . and yet another slight difference is visible when comparing the furs of the last 3 giraffe (this giraffe was photographed in the Hluhluwe Game Park) . . . 

. . . whereas colour-wise this giraffe (photograped in the Kruger National Park) is in a "class of its own" - yet geographically all of these giraffe should "belong" to only 1 of the 9 subspecies of giraffe found in Africa - the South African (or Transvaal) giraffe.

After a last closer look at the fur of a giraffe, let's take one more look at the numerous variations in the stripe-pattern of a typical Plains (commonly referred to as Burchell's) zebra - with its black flank stripes also covering the underparts, as well as the narrow (brown, yellow or grey) "shadow stripes" between the broad black rump stripes.

After some "resistance" at first, because I was under the impression that this is a different species instead of a subspecies of the Plains (Burchell's) zebra, I now believe that this is a Grant's zebra - even if there aren't any (visible) shadow stripes on the coat!!

In contrast I'm still not sure if we are looking at another subspecies of the Plains zebra, namely 2 Damara zebra - because they have (completely) white legs & were photographed in the Etosha Game reserve (where geological this subspecies is "at home") - OR if these are "real" Burchell's zebra (since according to some sources, the Burchell's is a subspecies of the Plains zebra) - this subspecies is also said to have NO stripes on the legs!!??