Why Does the Giraffe have a long neck?

Giraffe.... it has long neck.... - do you know why a giraffe has to spread its leg to drink water from ground even though it has a long neck????
India
July 19, 2007 8:20am CST
Giraffes have aroused the curiosity of man since earliest times. the ancient Egyptians and Greeks had a theory that giraffes were a mixture os the leopard and the camel, and they called the giraffe "a camelopard." The giraffes is the tallest of all living animals but scientist are unable to explain how it got its long neck. A famous French Zoologist, Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, had a thoery that at one time the giraffe's neck was much shorter than it is now. HE thought that the neck grew because of its habit of reaching to the tender leaves in the upper branches of trees. but scientist is general, they dont agree with de lamarck's theory. strange enough, but the truth is the giraffe has an average body like a horse. its tremodous height which may reach upto 6metre comes from its legs and neck. know what, surprisingly, the neck of giraffe has only seven vertebrates just like a human. but each vertebrae are extremely long. hence the neck og giraffes are so stiff. and thats the reason that giraffe has to spread its legs to reach for the water on ground. the giraffe eats only plants and its strange body shape and built makes them enable to have the food. its great height enables them to reach to the leaves on top of the trees of African savanna where there is little grass. not to leave its tongue, it has 46 cms long tongue. it has the skill in it to take small leaves from a thorny plant without getting pricked. and its upper lip helps it to wrench off many leaves at a time. the giraffe can protect itself in many ways. its color makes it hide while they're in the shades of trees... it has good eye sight, hearing ability to fainted sounds, and it can run upto 30 miles per hour... it can even outrun the horses! when attacked, a giraffe can put up a good fight by kicking out with its hindlegs or using it head like a sledge hammer. even a lion is careful while hunting a giraffe, it always hints it from behind.... i've given out some interesting point about giraffe.... do ya have any????
2 responses
• Philippines
19 Jul 07
...but you know Jean Baptite de Marc theory is not true. Giraffes have long necks because God made them so, and it was beautiful in his sight.
• India
8 Aug 07
oh yeah.... when we quit from the knowledge we get from our science books.... it is always true and no doubt they're god's creation and everything is as per His Will.
@rsa101 (37932)
• Philippines
4 Jul 08
Wow nice story about Giraffes in there. i got curios why it has a long neck and differently shaped body. Its one animal different from others.