KISS ME!

[Mal]

Pucker up and give us a kiss. I am sure you can all guess the animal. But can you be a little more specific and tell me the species?

As far as C & C goes bring it on....

It was interesting light in Melbourne last Friday, the sky was just so "hot" that it was causing us real problems. But it created some interesting effects.

[gstark]

Mal,

You've shaved!

Great capture.

[blacknstormy]

Giraffa camelopardalis
there are 8 subspecies, but I can't tell from the lips

[Mal]

Giraffa camelopardalis
there are 8 subspecies, but I can't tell from the lips

Very impressive! I believe that there are only a couple of subspecies in Australia....
Move up from the lips a little and that is the give away, if you know your giraffe's!!!!

[Mal]

Mal,

You've shaved!

Great capture.

Gee I missed a few stray hairs!

[sirhc55]

Mal - you have obviously met my ex-mother-in-law

I would select the blown sky and paste in a new blue sky

[blacknstormy]

oh no, bloody scientists - there are 9 subspecies, with scientists proposing the existance of a further 4 !!!!!

[Mal]

Mal - you have obviously met my ex-mother-in-law

I would select the blown sky and paste in a new blue sky

OK had a bit of a play with adding a new sky, I am at work and really shouldn't be doing this..... BUT when the boss is away....



I actually think that this picture works better with this shy, it also had a fully blowen out sky. I need to spend more time adjusting the colours to make them match a bit better, but it does give it a bit more.



And this shot should also help with blacknstormy working out the subspecies

[blacknstormy]

mmm. not sure if the colours are quite right - but me thinks it is G. c. reticulata ...... ????? regular edges to the colouration, and white (? can't be sure from this shot) delineation between the pattern ....  LOL

[blacknstormy]

You've got to love wilkipedia

and if you want to go even further:
There are 9 generally accepted subspecies, differentiated by color and pattern variations and range:

Reticulated or Somali Giraffe (G.c. reticulata) — large, polygonal liver-colored spots outlined by a network of bright white lines. The blocks may sometimes appear deep red and may also cover the legs. Range: northeastern Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia.

Angolan or Smoky Giraffe (G.c. angolensis) — large spots and some notches around the edges, extending down the entire lower leg. Range: Angola, Zambia.

Kordofan Giraffe (G.c. antiquorum) — smaller, more irregular spots that do cover the inner legs. Range: western and southwestern Sudan.

Masai or Kilimanjaro Giraffe (G.c. tippelskirchi) — jagged-edged, vine-leaf shaped spots of dark chocolate on a yellowish background. Range: central and southern Kenya, Tanzania.

Nubian Giraffe (G.c. camelopardalis) — large, four-sided spots of chestnut brown on an off-white background and no spots on inner sides of the legs or below the hocks. Range: eastern Sudan, northeast Congo.

Rothschild's or Baringo or Ugandan Giraffe (G.c. rothschildi) — deep brown, blotched or rectangular spots with poorly defined cream lines. Hocks may be spotted. Range: Uganda, north-central Kenya.

South African Giraffe (G.c. giraffa) — rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves. Range: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.

Thornicroft or Rhodesian Giraffe (G.c. thornicrofti) — star-shaped or leafy spots extend to the lower leg. Range: eastern Zambia.
West African or Nigerian Giraffe (G.c. peralta) — numerous pale, yellowish red spots. Range: Chad.

Some scientists regard Kordofan and West African Giraffes as a single subspecies; similarly with Nubian and Rothschild's Giraffes, and with Angolan and South African Giraffes. Further, some scientists regard all populations except the Masai Giraffes as a single subspecies. By contrast, scientists have proposed four other subspecies — Cape Giraffe (G.c. capensis), Lado Giraffe (G.c. cottoni), Congo Giraffe (G.c. congoensis), and Transvaal Giraffe (G.c. wardi) — but none of these is widely accepted.

[Mal]

Giraffa Camelopardalis Rothschildi - The Five-horned Giraffe

Rothschild's giraffes differ from other giraffes in that they are taller and have paler coats, and their patches are less jagged than that of the Masai giraffe.

Their main distinguishing feature, however, is that they have five horn-like structures on the top of their head. Other giraffes only have three.

Rothschild's giraffe is named after zoologist and passionate animal collector Lord Walter Rothschild.

The Rothschild's giraffe is the rarest species of giraffe in the world; only 40 of them are believed to live in the wild.

End of animal educational....... any C & C on the pictures

[blacknstormy]

very very very cool !!!!!! Thank you

I do like the lip shot, but the only thing that detracts from it is the blown highlights on the outer 'cheek'?, but I personally prefer the first edition to the second.

The whole head shot is great - feel like I'm looking at an optus commercial  LOL

Now have to hang my head in shame as I didn't know my giraffes  LOL

Hugs

ps where did you get the shot??

[Killakoala]

Two things I learned from this post.

1. It is not a camel, as i thought it was from the first image.

2. There is more than one variety of Giraffe.

Fascinating stuff, really.

[Mal]

ps where did you get the shot??

Werribee Zoo in Melbourne. Wonderful place to visit, if you go with a film crew! Not the best if you go as a tourist and are stuck on the bus

They run photographic days, and this allows you to travel in the open toppped truck so that you can get a little closer to the animals.
http://www.zoo.org.au/vorz/photo_wz.htm

The great thing about my job is that we get to be really close, sometimes just a little too close

[meicw]

Yes Werribee Open Range Zoo is a great place to visit. The Melbourne branch did organise a shoot on the ute couple of years ago. We shall have to do it again.
Nice shots.

Regards
meicw

[marcotrov]

A very creative perspective. Frightening but creative. That raspy tongue could have taken the coating off your camera lens
cheers
marco