Scientists reveal why giraffes really have such long legs

Scientists reveal why giraffes really have such long legs (Image: Canva)

Giraffes have always amazed scientists with their towering height. Their long necks were thought to reach trees for food. But new research suggests a different evolutionary purpose altogether. Long legs, not long necks, were the first major change.

Study Challenges Traditional Thinking

Researchers Roger Seymour and Edward Snelling led the recent study. They explored how much energy giraffes use to pump blood. The findings overturn the long-held “neck first” evolutionary assumption. Instead, their legs evolved longer to help the heart work efficiently.

The Role of the Heart in Evolution

A giraffe’s heart must pump blood nearly two metres upward. This process demands immense pressure and significant energy which has to be used daily. The researchers compared giraffes with an imaginary “elaffe” who have short legs. They found shorter legs would waste far more cardiovascular energy rather than long legs.

Energy Efficiency Drove Their Unique Build

The study revealed giraffes save about 21 percent energy. Longer legs raise the heart closer to the elevated head. This reduces the distance blood travels against gravity’s pull. This saves energy which equals roughly 1.5 tonnes of food yearly.

A Broader View of Evolutionary Design

These results show evolution balances external and internal pressures together. Feeding height mattered, but heart efficiency shaped growth more deeply. Long legs helped manage the extreme internal strain of circulation. The giraffe’s elegance now stands as an energy-driven evolutionary triumph.