Giraffe A lone giraffe in Kruger National Park, South Africa. (more) Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Why-Do-Giraffes-Have-Long-Necks Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 4, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot The long neck of a giraffe (genus Giraffa) is a classic example of adaptation, which is the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment. Giraffes use their long necks to browse foliage that is as high as six meters (20 feet) off the ground, primarily from thorny acacia trees. This ability to reach tall branches gives them access to food sources that are unavailable to other herbivores, reducing competition for food. One older theory of why giraffes have long necks was proposed by Jean-Baptise Lamarck, who suggested that individual giraffes stretched their necks to reach higher ...(100 of 218 words)

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