Adaptive Value of a Giraffe's Neck

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 Scherpers, 1996). However, others say that the necks are used in combat with other giraffes for opportunities to mate and that they usually get leaves from bushes that are lower (Young and Isbell, 1991). Even though they may often eat from lower bushes, in the dry seasons when there is not an abundance of leaves, the giraffes with the long necks will be able to have access to more leaves.

I believe that the long neck has a high adaptive value for several reasons. If you were to perform a cost benefit analysis, the fitness benefits would greatly outweigh the fitness cost. The costs are giraffes that have the long necks are more easily seen by predators and because of their size they may be challenged by other males for mating privileges with the females. The benefits would be they are able to mate with females more easily; females are attracted the males with longer necks, they can defend off predators better, and can provide food more efficiently for females and their offspring. You could compare the neck of a giraffe to another species like the mains of lions. Just as giraffes with the longest necks attract females, so do lions with long full mains. Just as giraffe's long necks help them win fights, a lion main may be used to protect the male's neck when fighting. Those distinctive traits that they have on their neck serve the same purposes and help increase fitness. Another method that could