The giraffe is the tallest living land animal, with males reaching about 5.5 metres.
Its exceptional height comes mainly from its long neck and legs. A giraffe’s neck can be about 2 metres long, yet it contains the same seven cervical vertebrae found in most mammals, including humans. Each vertebra is greatly elongated.
Giraffes use their height to browse on leaves high in trees, especially acacias, where many competing herbivores cannot reach. Their long, dark tongue helps them strip foliage while avoiding some thorns.
The giraffe is not a single uniform-looking animal: scientists recognize several species and subspecies, distinguished partly by coat patterns and geographic range. A common mix-up is assuming the tallest animal is also the heaviest; elephants are much heavier, while giraffes are specialized for browsing above ground level.