In light of the brutal tug-of-war over resources that is natural selection, it's been taken for granted that the giraffe's iconic neck evolved to reach leaves other plant-eaters can't possibly access.
"Although their skull and neck morphologies differ greatly, both are associated with male courtship struggles and both have evolved in an extreme direction."A comparison of the structures and shapes of skull protrusions and horns of ancient ruminating mammals – including other giraffoids, sheep, and pronghorn – suggests relatives to the giraffe evolved a wider variety of headgear, building a case for combat as a major factor in the evolution of the giraffe's cranium and vertebrae.
More importantly, natural selection isn't discriminating when it comes to purpose. If a long neck helps fight, feed, and flee predators without compromising too much on fitness, then it's going to stick around a little longer. But knowing there's a few butt-heads in the family might help persuade a few more biologists that a long neck might be a handy tool in the fight for survival.
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