AI Article Synopsis
- Giraffidae is the only ruminant family with two current species: the short-necked okapi (O. johnstoni) and the long-necked giraffe (G. camelopardalis), which are used to study cervical vertebrae anatomy.
- The study compares the morphological characteristics of their cervical vertebrae, finding that giraffes show consistent features from C3-C7, while okapi exhibit variability.
- The giraffe's unique C7 specialization relates to its long neck and affects neck function, influencing behavior linked to fighting and feeding.
Article Abstract
Giraffidae is the only family of ruminants that is represented by two extant species; Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis. Of these taxa, O. johnstoni represents a typical short-necked ungulate, and G. camelopardalis exemplifies the most extreme cervical elongation seen in any ruminant. We utilize these two species to provide a comprehensive anatomic description of the cervical vertebrae. In addition, we compare the serial morphologic characteristics of the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebrae, and report on several osteologic differences seen between the two taxa. The giraffe neck appears to exhibit homogenization of C3-C7; the position of the dorsal tubercle, thickness of the cranial articular process, shape of the ventral vertebral body, and orientation of the ventral tubercle are constant throughout these vertebrae, whereas these features are serially variable in the okapi. We also report on several specializations of the giraffe C7, which we believe relates to an atypical cervico-thoracic junction, corresponding to the substantial neck lengthening. The morphologic differences exhibited between the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebrae have implications on the function of the necks relating to both fighting and feeding.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4547811 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0136552 | PLOS |
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