Winning by a Neck

The giraffe’s long neck is often cited as an example of evolution by natural selection, but little research has been conducted to support this idea. New findings by USU researcher Johan du Toit and a South African colleague suggest that competition from shorter herbivores does indeed drive giraffes to reach for leaves high on trees for sustenance.

For more information, contact Johan du Toit [johan.dutoit@usu.edu], professor and department head, Department of Wildland Resources, College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, 435-797-0242. See also, Cameron, Elissa Z. and Johan T. du Toit, “Winning by a neck: tall giraffes avoid competing with shorter  browsers,” The American Naturalist, January 2007.