The neck of the giraffe is so long: mainly because
A. Each cervical vertebrae is very long
B. The number of blood vessels is relatively large
Correct Answer: Each cervical vertebra is long
Answer Analysis:
The giraffe's long neck is one of the most striking features in the animal kingdom. This unique anatomy is mainly due to long-term evolutionary adaptation.
Giraffes live in the African savannah, where trees are tall and have a lush canopy. The long neck allows the giraffe to reach the foliage of trees at high altitudes, giving them access to food resources that other herbivores can't reach. This way of feeding reduces competition with other herbivores, providing the giraffe with a unique ecological niche.
The long neck of a giraffe evolved gradually. Paleontological studies have found that the ancestors of giraffes did not initially have such slender necks. But over the long course of evolution, individuals with longer necks were able to obtain more food and thus have a higher survival and reproductive advantage. This advantage allowed the genes of the giraffe to accumulate and fix, which eventually led to the emergence of the modern giraffe.
In addition to feeding, long necks also provide an advantage for giraffes in other ways. For example, the long neck makes it easier for giraffes to detect predators at a distance, increasing their chances of survival. At the same time, male giraffes also use their long necks to engage in fierce territorial battles to determine the ownership of mating rights.
Although the giraffe's long neck may seem simple, there is a complex anatomy and physiological adaptation behind it. They have the same number of cervical vertebrae as other mammals, but each cervical vertebrae are not long. At the same time, giraffes have also evolved a unique cardiovascular system to maintain the blood supply to their long necks.
In conclusion, the giraffe's long neck is the result of dietary specialization and long-term evolution. This unique adaptive trait not only provides giraffes with a feeding advantage, but also becomes the key to their survival and reproduction in the African savannah. The giraffe's long neck also provides us with a vivid example of how organisms can evolve to adapt to specific living environments.