A zoo in Tennessee has welcomed what it is describing as the “world’s rarest giraffe” after a female calf was born with no spots.
A Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, is now offering animal enthusiasts around the world the chance to vote on her name, with polls closing on September 4.
David Bright, director of the zoo said, “This is beyond rare. The last time this happened was 1972 in Japan. This is the first case in the USA.”
(Video courtesy of KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco)
A giraffe’s spots are unique to each animal and form during early development. According to the Public Library of Science, these patterns are determined by the distribution of melanin-producing cells in the early embryo and the extent to which they release their pigment. This particular giraffe will, therefore, never grow spots.
Recent research has shown that this is at least partially determined by genetics, with baby giraffes inheriting certain spot traits from their mothers.
There are several theories as to why giraffes evolved spots in the first place. The first is for camouflage, but the complex patterns of blood vessels found under each patch suggests they may also play a role in temperature regulation, according to the Giraffe Conservation Society.
This particular giraffe does not seem to be hindered by her lack of spots. She was born on July 31 and has already grown to 6 feet tall.
