Adaptive value of a giraffe's neck
The Giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species. Most giraffes live either in East Africa or in Angola and Zambia in southwestern Africa (wikipedia). Until the middle of the 20th century giraffes were also commonly found in West Africa, south of the Sahara (San Diego). Males can grow to 16 to 18 feet tall, weigh up to 2000 pounds and have extremely long necks, whereas females are smaller. Adult Giraffes are usually too large to be attacked by most predators; smaller ones are prey to Lions, Leopards, hyenas, and African Hunting Dogs. The Giraffe defends itself against threats by kicking with great force. The Giraffe prefers plants of the Mimosa genus, although it seems that it can live by eating other vegetables (wikpedia).
The trait that I am interested in is the giraffe's long neck. Some articles said that it is used to get leaves from trees that other animals can not reach (Simmons and......
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