Darker male giraffes have been found to be more solitary and less social than their lighter-coloured counterparts, according to new research from The University of Queensland.
A long-term study revealed that the colour of male giraffes’ spots more strongly relates to their patterns of social association, rather than their age, as previously thought.
The paper’s lead author, Dr Madelaine Castles, said male giraffes tend to increase in darkness as they age, but some males never darken and others even lose pigmentation.
The research was primarily funded by the National Geographic Society, with support also provided by the Leiden Conservation Foundation, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Australian Geographic Society, the Wilderness Wildlife Trust and the Namibia Nature Foundation.
