A giraffe's neck is unusually long, so in this post we will find out why. We will also discover the purpose of its long neck, and what is a common misconception about giraffes' necks. A giraffe's neck can measure up to seven feet! This is one of the most noticeable features on a giraffe besides its two large black patches on it. Sometimes you may also notice a giraffe's neck is moving slightly up and down, but this shouldn't draw your attention away from all the other amazing things about this animal. The reason for a giraffe's long neck is actually quite simple. When it goes to drink water from a pond or lake, its legs are too short to do so. On a giraffe's neck, the vertebrae are very long and flexible. This allows it to reach the water which is much farther away than its legs can. The purpose of a giraffe's long neck is twofold; they help the animal to stay cool, and they also help it to stretch out when at rest and sleep. Giraffes have very large lungs, which allows them to be able to breath for longer periods of time than other animals. When a giraffe is drinking water, it can take in much more than the other animals around it. It can suck in more air, and then use that to cool down by contracting its blood vessels. This helps the animal to be able to stay cool when the climate is not very pleasant.