A giraffe has seven cervical vertebrae in its neck.
This is the same number of neck vertebrae found in most mammals, including humans. The difference is that a giraffe’s individual cervical vertebrae are greatly elongated, allowing its neck to reach roughly 2 metres in length.
Giraffes use their long necks to browse on leaves high in trees, especially acacias. Their height also helps them scan wide areas for predators. Despite its length, the neck has only seven bones, connected by joints and supported by powerful muscles and ligaments.
The giraffe’s cardiovascular system has special adaptations for its height. A large heart generates high blood pressure, while valves and tightly controlled blood vessels help manage blood flow to the brain when the animal lowers or raises its head. Long necks are not produced by having extra vertebrae.