An unusual discovery reveals why giraffes have such long necks -- and it has to do with an early relative who excelled at headbutting.
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A strange early relative of the giraffe was perfectly adapted for some serious headbutting 17 million years ago, according to new research.
The oddball giraffoid didn't have the signature long neck of today's giraffe. Instead, the ancient animal, built for fierce fighting, sported helmet-like headgear and the most complex head-neck joints ever seen in a mammal. Researchers have dubbed this creature Discokeryx xiezhi. In Chinese legends, xiezhi is a mythical one-horned creature resembling a goat.
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