Okapi, which lacks these unique features, is giraffe’s closest relative and provides a useful comparison, to identify genetic variation underlying giraffe’s long neck and cardiovascular system.

A difference of as few as 70 genes led giraffes to distinguish themselves from their closest relative by their long necks, according to new research. Researchers behind the study, published in the ...

“The fact that okapi, giraffe’s closest relative, use its head as both a club and for head-butting, says to me that head-butting and neck-fighting behaviors are not fundamentally ...

The giraffe's neck as made us reconsider our ... but it had two features that might help you guess its closest living relatives. On top of its head were two bony structures, called ossicones ...

A strange early relative of the giraffe was perfectly adapted for some serious headbutting 17 million years ago, according to new research. The oddball giraffoid didn't have the signature long ...

You know giraffes are tall—the tallest mammals in the world, in fact—but you may not be aware of these 20 other amazing facts about the leggy herbivores. 1. Giraffes can sprint. Over short ...

Here’s how it works. Nearly 17 million years ago, a relative of modern giraffes that roamed northern China sported a thick, stumpy neck and a thick skull — perfect for sparring with rival ...

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A strange early ...