CONTEMPLATION COASTER

The giraffe’s neck is much longer than ours but it only has seven vertebrae like we do. An adult giraffe’s neck is supported by around 500 pounds of muscle. The amount of muscle is related to the number of joints that must be supported. If the giraffe had more neck vertebrae it would require more muscle and add more weight. If it had fewer vertebrae it would require less muscle but it would lose flexibility. The giraffe is designed just right. This giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.