The binucleate cell of okapi and giraffe placenta shows distinctive glycosylation compared with other ruminants: a lectin histochemical study.

•Placental binucleate cell (BNC) glycans from Giraffe, Okapi and Bovine were studied using lectin histochemistry.•Giraffe and Okapi BNC glycans were similar to each other but differed from other ruminant BNC.•Key differences were found in expression of terminal N-acetylgalactosamine residues.•This confirms the position of Giraffidae as a distinct superfamily.•Giraffidae developed unique BNC glycan patterns following their split from Bovidae.