Abstract
ACCORDING to Darwin the long neck of the giraffe is the result of natural selection acting through the animal's tree-feeding habit. He wrote: “the individuals which were the highest browsers and were able during dearths to reach even an inch or two above the others will often have been preserved”1.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Darwin, C., “Origin of Species” (John Murray, 1859).
Brazier Howell, A., “Speed in Animals” (University of Chicago Press, 1944).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PINCHER, C. Evolution of the Giraffe. Nature 164, 29–30 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164029b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/164029b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.