Why do giraffes have such long necks? Is it to reach higher leaves? |
Why do giraffes have such long necks? Is it to reach higher leaves? asks Alejandro Carreras, a student in North Carolina.
While the origins of the giraffe’s neck is still a mystery, many scientists think the giraffe backstory is less about feeding, and more about fighting.
Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth, with some males standing 19 feet high. Weighing in at 1,200 to 4,200 lbs., giraffes still manage to run at up to 35 mph. Besides their long necks, giraffes also have long, grasping tongues, which can extend 18 inches to reach tasty inner tree leaves. (more…)