[Taxacom] How many species of giraffes?

[Mary Barkworth]

I am a botanist and I know of the proposal - and enjoyed the PBS program on giraffes this evening. . I suspect it is just a matter of the IUCN people (and all the others who try to incorporate new taxonomic findings into their database) finding the time required. There may also be concern about how to make some changes without having politicians and vested interests consider such a change grounds for dismissing IUCN recommendations "scientists keep changing their minds". 

-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom <taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu> On Behalf Of John Grehan
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 8:24 PM
To: Kenneth Kinman <kinman at hotmail.com>
Cc: taxacom <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] How many species of giraffes?

Ken, would it not make the best sense for you to send this proposal to those active in giraffe taxonomy? If its such a good idea perhaps they will make the recommendation to IUCN?

John Grehan

On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 9:54 PM, Kenneth Kinman <kinman at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Dear All,
>       I was surprised to learn that the IUCN still only recognizes a 
> single species of giraffe.  Perhaps because of the 
> confusion/controversy over how many species to actually recognize by 
> various authors (perhaps four or six?).
>
>        Until the controversies are played out (which could take many 
> years), it seems to me that IUCN should at least take the first step 
> and split the single species into at least two species of giraffe: (1) 
> a southern species including the South African, Masai, and Angolan 
> giraffes; and (2) a northern species.
>
>        I think most workers would agree that there at least two species.
> So the next step would then be to determine if the four species 
> proposal has merit:  splitting G. tippelskirchi from the other 
> southern forms; and/or splitting G. reticulata from the other northern forms.
>
>        It seems to me that such a stepwise approach would be better 
> than just sitting around pretending that there is just one species 
> just because there is no consensus how many species we will eventually agree upon.
> There are plenty of researchers out there who at least agree there are 
> more than one species, and they could certainly agree that there are 
> at least two.  Therefore, I would encourage IUCN to at least take that 
> first step as soon as possible.  There is little reason not to take 
> that first step just because there is disagreement how many species 
> should ultimately be recognized.
>
>                         -----------Ken Kinman. usually a lumper, but a 
> little splitting seems appropriate here
>
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