Why do the giraffes still have such a long neck?
Since the time of Darwin, the giraffe has been presented as a classic example of adaptive evolution. The fact that they sniff high into the canopy due to their long necks is considered a direct result of the selection on this form of foraging. Wang et al. describe a new Miocene giraffoid strain with helmet-like headgear and complex head and neck joints that indicate intense head butts. They argue that the selection for such battles also played a role in forming the group's long necks.