Sandara Park: Human and giraffe necks have this in common 🦒


	December 12, 2024

Original photo by Soft_Light/ iStock

Humans and giraffes have the same number of neck bones.

The length of an average adult human neck ranges from about 4.5 inches to a bit more than 5 inches, while the longest human necks measure about 7.75 inches. In comparison, the average giraffe neck can reach up to 8 feet long. Despite this stark difference, humans and giraffes have an identical number of neck bones, with seven vertebrae apiece; in fact, most mammals have seven cervical vertebrae. These bones are located in the upper portion of the spine, and in humans, each measures around half an inch long. But in giraffes, those same bones can grow up to 12 inches long, resulting in their striking signature feature.

Some research suggests giraffes may have an unofficial eighth neck vertebrae in the form of their first thoracic (chest) vertebra. In humans, this bone is considered a fixed part of the spine and has no impact on neck mobility. But for giraffes, the first thoracic vertebra is believed to act as a fulcrum, which allows their necks to have greater range of motion. If true, it could be argued that giraffes have eight neck bones in practice, even if their musculoskeletal structure only technically contains seven.

Nonmammalian species, meanwhile, have far more neck bones than humans and giraffes. In the avian world, ostriches have the longest neck of any living bird at around 3 feet. Their necks contain 17 cervical vertebrae, measuring a little more than 2 inches each. But in all of recorded history, the record for most neck bones belongs to the plesiosaur Albertonectes vanderveldei, which is thought to have had around 76 cervical vertebrae.

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No two giraffes have the same spot pattern.

Much like human fingerprints, a giraffe's spotted coat is unique to each creature, which allows researchers to easily identify individual giraffes. The different species of giraffe also have distinct spot styles. For example, reticulated giraffes have distinct brown spots separated by clear white lines. Masai giraffes, on the other hand, have a spot pattern that's more oblong and jagged. But spots are used for more than just identification purposes. The brown and tan colors provide giraffes with natural camouflage in the savannah, and the spots are also used for thermoregulation, which is helpful given that giraffes don't sweat. Each spot covers up a complex array of blood vessels that expand or contract depending on the surrounding temperature, allowing each giraffe to release and manage their body heat accordingly. In rare cases, giraffes can be born spotless, though this has only been recorded once in the wild and twice in zoos.

Today's edition of Interesting Facts was written by Bennett Kleinman and edited by Brooke Robinson.