Understanding selection for long necks in different taxa
@article{Wilkinson2012UnderstandingSF, title={Understanding selection for long necks in different taxa}, author={David M. Wilkinson and Graeme D. Ruxton}, journal={Biological Reviews}, year={2012}, volume={87} }
There has been recent discussion about the evolutionary pressures underlying the long necks of extant giraffes and extinct sauropod dinosaurs. [] Key Method We consider the evolution of long necks across a wide range of (both living and extinct) taxa and ask whether there has been a common selective factor or whether each case has a separate explanation. We conclude that in most cases long necks can be explained in terms of foraging requirements, and that alternative explanations in terms of sexual selection…
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