Jirafa vs plains zebra

Giraffa camelopardalis compared with Equus quagga

Key Differences

  • Jirafa is Vulnerable while plains zebra is Near Threatened.
  • Jirafa is 3.4x heavier than plains zebra.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Jirafa plains zebra
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same Chordata (cordados) Chordata (cordados)
Class same Mammalia (mamíferos) Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order Artiodactyla (artiodáctilos) Perissodactyla (Odd-toed Ungulates)
Family Giraffidae (Giraffes) Equidae (Horses & Zebras)
Genus Giraffa (Giraffes) Equus (Horses & Zebras)
Species Giraffa camelopardalis Equus quagga

Evolutionary Relationship

Jirafa and plains zebra share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mamíferos)

Conservation Status

Jirafa

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~117.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

plains zebra

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~750.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Jirafa plains zebra
Diet Herbivore Herbivore
Average Lifespan 25 years 25 years
Average Length 5.5 m 2.3 m
Average Weight 1.2 t 350.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Jirafa

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

plains zebra

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Jirafa

La jirafa (Giraffa camelopardalis) es el animal terrestre más alto de la Tierra, puede alcanzar 5,5 metros de altura y pesar hasta 1.750 kg. Su elongado cuello, que contiene las mismas siete vértebras cervicales que todos los mamíferos, evolucionó para alimentarse de acacias en sabanas y bosques africanos. Animal social que vive en manadas sueltas, se comunica mediante infrasonidos y lenguaje corporal. Clasificada como Vulnerable debido a la pérdida de hábitat y la caza furtiva.

plains zebra

La cebra de las llanuras, el equido salvaje mas numeroso, habita pastizales y sabanas del este y sur de Africa en manadas que van desde pequenos grupos familiares hasta vastas agregaciones. Sus llamativos patrones de rayas en blanco y negro son unicos para cada individuo y pueden servir para confundir a los depredadores, disuadir a los insectos picadores y facilitar el reconocimiento individual. Las cebras son una presa clave para leones, hienas y cocodrilos, sustentando las redes alimentarias de la sabana.

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