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Giraffes May Be Six Separate Species

Posted by kdawson on from the neck-and-neck dept.

The BBC reports on research, published in BMC Biology, pointing to the possibility that there may be at least six species of giraffe in Africa. Quoting: "'Using molecular techniques we found that giraffes can be classified into six groups that are reproductively isolated and not interbreeding,' David Brown, the lead author of the study and a geneticist at... UCLA told BBC News. 'The results were a surprise because although the giraffes look different, if you put them in zoos, they breed freely.'"

13 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Same thing with people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even though we all look different (eg: skin colour, height, "width", etc), if you put us in zoos, we will breed freely also

    1. Re:Same thing with people... by Beached · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yah, it's called College

      --
      ---- aut viam inveniam aut faciam
    2. Re:Same thing with people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, its also called low income housing...

    3. Re:Same thing with people... by hlt32 · · Score: 2, Funny

      We will breed freely with giraffes?!

      --
      à_à
  2. Re:Breeding? by djupedal · · Score: 4, Funny
    "wouldn't it be better to say 6 subspecies of giraffe?"

    You mean, like:
    • giraffa
    • giraffb
    • giraffc
    • giraffd
    • giraffe
    • girafff
    ?
  3. Re:Breeding? by ozmanjusri · · Score: 3, Funny
    What about the Norwegian Blue?

    Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  4. In related moves by kaiwai · · Score: 1, Funny

    After much debate within the men's community, there has been a decision to classify females as an entirely new species.

    Confirming the almot accepted idea that men are from earth and women are from planet far away and at constant war every 28 days.

  5. in that case ... by ThirdPrize · · Score: 5, Funny

    the people of texas are a completely different species to the ones in New York and California.

    --
    I have excellent Karma and I am not afraid to Troll it.
  6. Re:Breeding? by aussie_a · · Score: 3, Funny

    Someone want to link me the Monty Python script this is taken from so I can see where this comment originated?

    Oh you might be wondering how I know its a Monty Python quote without knowing the reference? Its elementary, you see:
    * Its been modded 2, Funny so it could be a joke.
    * It makes very little sense in this context confirms it is a joke.
    * A very British accent is being used so obviously the joke is of English (the country, not the language) origin.
    * This is a site for nerds so unless a cult of The Goodies has risen up while I wasn't looking, it has to be a Monty Python reference.

  7. Re:Breeding? by aussie_a · · Score: 2, Funny

    Tigers and Lions don't breed in the wild (geographic reasons, mostly! Well that and everyone knows tigers are sluts and so no-one will consider sleeping with one unless they've got a vet nearby to help treat them for the STDs the poor lion invariably caught.
  8. Glen Quagmire.... by mikerubin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good Morning Baby..... ... ...
    Hey wait a minute, you're not the same giraffe from last night !

    --
    I sat down to write a new sig tonight and all I did was make the chair warm.
  9. Re:Breeding? by 91degrees · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes, but then he wouldn't be able to show how smart he was working out it was a python reference.

  10. Logic error? by PPH · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...groups that are reproductively isolated and not interbreeding,...

    By this logic, supermodels and Slashdotters are members of different species.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.