Zoologists have a few ideas. Some say giraffes developed long necks to swing like baseball bats when competing for mates – but the most common theory is actually the simplest: Giraffes evolved with sky-high skulls to help them munch on leaves out of reach of other animals. Despite their towering necks, though, giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrate (special bones on the spinal cord) a humans – and even mice!
Giraffes share their habitat with lots of other animals — a lot of shorter animals. These shorter creatures also need to eat, snacking on plants and foliage at a height that may not even reach giraffes’ knees.
Since these shorter creatures pick over food at a lower level, giraffes’ necks allow them to reach food and nutrients that others cannot. This becomes especially important for survival in habitats where food can become scarce and droughts are fairly common. Giraffes can feed close to the ground, too, but research has shown that they prefer to eat at heights between 7 and 14 feet.
Picture Credit : Google
