I love giraffes

[packman]

From the marvel of their blood pressure system to their "compression socks" legs to the strange loop-de-loop anatomy of their neck vocalization nerves ---


"Giraffes have long enjoyed a special place in the hearts of evolutionists for another reason: as a real-life example of how to distinguish Darwinian from Lamarckian evolution. It turns out, however, the story isn’t quite so simple; indeed, nothing about these fascinating and bizarre animals is. A close look at their private lives has implicated mating no less than munching when it comes to their notable anatomy, leading to issues that have spurred considerable debate among today’s (admittedly small) community of giraffologists"


http://extragoodshit.phlap.net/index.php/how-necking-shaped-the-giraffe/#more-306219

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Thanks for the article. Giraffes certainly are interesting animals.

[frogmarch]

2. I do too! Thanks for

this fascinating article.

[Laffy Kat]

3. Ditto. I have girraffe stuff all over the place.

IMHO, they are the most fantastic mammals. Did you know they have the same number of bones as humans?

[Skittles]

4. sleeping

[Lionel Mandrake]

5. What happens when you cross a camel with a leopard?

According to the Greeks, you get a giraffe, hence "kamēlopardalis" (which is also a constellation).

By the way, I like the new Just So story about necking. Kipling couldn't have topped that one.

[mainer]

6. They're very sweet and weirdly silent

I spent a lot of time watching them in Africa. They're beautiful, gentle creatures. The only time you know they're on alert is when they all suddenly swivel their heads in the same direction.