Giraffes Inherit Spot Patterns From Their Mamas, Study Says

Giraffes Inherit Spot Patterns From Their Mamas, Study Says Enlarge this image toggle caption Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images The mottled spots giraffes are known for aren't random, according to a new study that suggests that the patterns are inherited maternally — and that they may impact the chances of a calf surviving its first few months of life. Lee and his team conducted their study by using image analysis software to determine the similarity of spot traits between wild Masai mother giraffes and their offspring in Tanzania, where the animals exist free and unfenced across vast landscapes. "This increased survival could reflect better camouflage of these young giraffes, but it also could be related to other survival-enhancing factors, such as temperature regulation or visual communication," says a press release. The team hopes their findings will inform further investigations into the "developmental and genetic architecture of complex mammal coat patterns and their adaptive value," as the study's conclusion says.