3163 x 4724 px | 26,8 x 40 cm | 10,5 x 15,7 inches | 300dpi
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Males establish social hierarchies through "necking", which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Dominant males gain mating access to females, who bear the sole responsibility for raising the young Fully grown giraffes stand 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall, with males taller than females The giraffe's neck vertebrae have ball and socket joints.[30]:71 In particular, the atlas–axis joint (C1 and C2) allows the animal to tilt its head vertically and reach more branches with the tongue This elongation, which occurs in large part after birth, [40] makes the vertebrae 150 percent longer than those of similar-sized animals. Each cervical vertebra is over 28 cm (11 in) long.[30]:71 The giraffe's head and neck are held up by large muscles and a nuchal ligament, which are anchored by long dorsal spines on the anterior thoracic vertebrae, giving the animal a hump During courtship, dominant males will displace subordinate ones from the presence of the females by staring and walking towards them. The female prolongs the courtship process for as long as possible, so that only the most dominant male remains. During copulation, the male stands on its hind legs with its head held up and its front legs resting on the female's sides
