Only the giraffe (and its rain forest relative, the Okapi) have necks that are so short relative to their legs and chest that they must splay or bend their legs. So why hasn’t the giraffe become famous for its manifestly short neck?

2024年6月6日 · Giraffe ancestors had shorter necks. Why that changed so drastically over their evolution has stirred a surprising amount of debate since the time of Charles Darwin. While a recent theory suggests regulating body temperature may have played a role, the main giraffe neck-elongation contenders are competition over food or sex.

2022年6月2日 · Nearly 17 million years ago, a relative of modern giraffes that roamed northern China sported a thick, stumpy neck and a thick skull — perfect for sparring with rival males in headbutting...

A long-legged short neck giraffe could most likely drink on its knees, so neck elongation is not likely a result of long legs alone. As expected and like other herbivores, giraffe vigilance while drinking increases in the presence of lions [ 28 ].

The Giraffe's Short Neck: When you look at the giraffe in its organic unity, you find that the neck is one expression of a tendency that governs the entire body. In fact, in some respects, the neck is relatively short!

2023年3月13日 · The giraffe’s neck has long been a beloved icon of evolutionary theory. According to the story, one of the giraffe’s short-necked ancestors had a slightly longer neck, which helped him reach leaves the other animals on the savannah couldn’t. This gave him a survival advantage he passed on to his offspring.

2020年1月29日 · Once upon a time, giraffes had much shorter necks… They are the tallest mammal on Earth reaching heights of up to 6 meters! Their necks can stretch up to 2 meters to reach their favourite food: The nutritious yet toxic pods and leaves of the Acacia tree. So how did Giraffes get their long necks?

2022年6月3日 · Fossil Friday: short-necked, helmeted giraffe found in northwest China. The discovery could help us understand why giraffes evolved such long necks.

2015年11月25日 · For years, there has been scant fossil evidence showing how the giraffe evolved to have such an admirably long neck. But now, the remains of a 7-million-year-old creature with a shorter...

Unlike modern giraffes, Discokeryx xiezhi had a short neck, and on top of its head there was a bulging, hard plate that was used to combat other males in the battle for females. The small giraffe was roughly the size of a sheep, so it is highly unusual that its skull was up to 2.5cm thick, making the head ideal for fights.