Was the Sauropod Related to the Giraffe?

Giraffe Evolution

• The giraffe evolved directly from the okapi, a deer-like creature with a short neck.

Mammal Evolution

• Mammals evolved more than 200 million years ago in the Triassic period, from Synapsidae, a group of animals called "mammal-like dinosaurs."

Early Mammals

• The first mammals had dog-like skeletons, and short necks; their skeletons resemble dogs and rabbits far more than they do giraffes.

The Neck

• Both the giraffe and the long-necked sauropods developed their necks for the same reason: to reach vegetation from the upper branches of trees.

Conclusion

• Technically speaking, the giraffe did evolve from sauropod, as did all mammals. But so did the bird, which far more closely resembles its dinosaur ancestors.