Page "Sexual selection" Paragraph 13

Recently, there has been some controversy regarding the evolutionary origins of the giraffe's ( Giraffa camelopardalis ) neck.

The long accepted " competing browser's hypothesis " by Charles Darwin is now being put into question.

Originally scientists believed that the elongation of the giraffe's neck had been a result of foraging selection.

It was said that millions of years ago when the giraffe first appeared these animals had a variation of neck lengths.

However, because of the fierce competition between the giraffe and rival foragers, those with the shorter necks could only find food at the level rivals were also feeding at.

Fortunately, the giraffes with long necks had a larger range of food choice ( based on height ) and thus lived longer and this trait was selected for through natural selection.