REACHING OUT
Long as it is, the giraffe's neck has only seven vertebrae - like any other mammal. Males use their necks in combat that occasionally ends in death for one - the longer the neck and the heavier the head, the greater the force of a blow. Males' necks and heads grow throughout their 20 years or so of life (females' reach their peak at around 10). Males also use their necks to caress each other, leading to same-sex mounting - which is more common than heterosexual couplings.
Masai giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi mother sucking young’s ear
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya Africa
Web code: 142014
