Metal AF Giraffe Cousins Had Skulls Made for Bashing

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An illustration of Discokeryx xiezhi.

An illustration of Discokeryx xiezhi.

A key use of giraffes’ long necks is necking, a form of combat in which two giraffes swing their necks at one another, slamming opponents with their heads, to establish dominance. Now, researchers have described a previously unknown giraffe ancestor with a similar anatomy for fighting, in the form of a reinforced, helmet-like skull.