December 16, 2025
In a new study involving two researchers named Edward Snelling and Roger Seymour, it was found that giraffes’ legs evolved before their long necks, enabling their heart to pump blood to their head more easily. According to scientists, if giraffes had a long neck and shorter legs, they would require more cardiovascular energy to pump blood from their heart high up to their head. However, having long legs raises the heart closer to the brain, easing the pressure needed to pump blood upwards, thus helping with circulation. This also helps giraffes save about 1.5 tonnes of food energy each year—a vital survival advantage in the wild.
DID YOU KNOW?
Giraffes can consume nearly 45kgs of plant matter each day.
ACTIVITY: Admirable Adaptations
How do these features of animals help them?
- Giraffe’s long legs:___________________
- Camel’s hump:_____________________
- Kingfisher’s beak:___________________
- Elephant’s trunk:____________________
- Polar bear’s blubber:_________________
