the neck grew so that the giraffe could stretch down to eat
long grass and drink water. This scenario also has problems.
Long legs do not necessarily give the giraffe an advantage
to outrun predators. In fact, many of the fastest animals
alive have legs far shorter than a modern giraffe’s.
Giraffes’ long necks are critical in allowing them to
rise from a lying position (they use their neck to shift their
weight, allowing them to stand on their long legs) and especially
in running (which involves a snake-like, slithery
movement that propels their entire body forward in a beautiful,
rhythmic flow). The long, thin giraffe neck provides a
great deal of surface area, which allows effective cooling
(for this reason, giraffes—in contrast to many other large
mammals that live in warm temperate areas—can remain
in the hot sun for long periods of time).