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About 12 million years ago, scientists believe that today's giraffes evolved from an animal with a similar genetic sequence. The okapi is the only extant member of the Giraffidae family and it had a shorter neck than today's giraffes because vegetation (food) was easily within access.
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About 7 million years ago, the Samotherium species from the Giraffidae family thrived in the Eurasian grasslands. This species had a neck of 1-meter long.
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The giraffe has long legs and neck. The longest neck in the largest males can measure from 2 to 3 meters. The giraffe's long legs and neck allows it to eat food from a higher level whenever food from below is not sufficient.
