Which of the following accounts for the giraffe's long neck?
A) Developmental plasticity
B) Modularity
C) Heterochrony
D) Apoptosis
E) Stretching

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heterochrony, or changes in the timing of developmental events, is the most likely explanation for the evolution of the giraffe's long neck. Specifically, giraffes have a longer period of growth and delay in ossification of their cervical vertebrae, which allows for the elongation of the neck. This is an example of paedomorphosis, where the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood leads to the evolution of new morphological traits.

Which of the Following Accounts for the Giraffe's Long Neck