Page "Giraffe" Paragraph 7

While the progressive elongation of the neck and limbs can be found throughout the giraffid lineage, it became more pronounced in genera such as Giraffokeryx, Palaeotragus ( possible ancestor of the okapi ), Samotherium and Bohlinia.

Bohlinia entered China and northern India in response to climate change.

From here, the genus Giraffa evolved and, around 7 mya, entered Africa.

Further climate changes caused the extinction of the Asian giraffes, while the African ones survived and radiated into several new species.

G. camelopardalis arose around 1 mya in eastern Africa during the Pleistocene.

Some biologists suggest that the modern giraffe descended from G. jumae ; others find G. gracilis a more likely candidate.

It is believed that the main driver for the evolution of the giraffes was the change from extensive forests to more open habitats, which began 8 mya.