Seven Vertebrae in a Giraffe's Long Neck

Like most mammals, a giraffe has seven cervical vertebrae; they are exceptionally elongated. These bones form its long neck, supported and moved by large muscles and specialized joints. The neck helps giraffes reach foliage at different heights, while their stature also broadens their view. Males compete by swinging their necks and striking with their heads, a behavior called “necking.” Which factor primarily drove the evolution of the long neck—feeding access, sexual selection, or a combination—remains debated.