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As an animal enthusiast, you may sometimes wonder what the 20 long-neck animals in the world are. Imagine not having to stretch so much to peer around, intriguing right? That’s typically how these animals live. Several theories have emerged as to how these animals evolved and advanced in these ways.
One theory points to survival as these animals with long necks have some leverage over those that do not. They have a higher look at their surroundings which makes it easy for them to sight danger in good time. And this may not be the only advantage their long necks offer.
These animals include Giraffes, Camels, Gerenuk, Emu, Ostrich, Anhinga, Rhea, Black Swans, Llamas, Flamingo, Egret, Horse, Alpacas, Snake-necked Turtle, Zebra, and Scarlet Ibis, Okapi, King Vulture, Komodo Dragon, Herons and more.
So if you are quite curious about these animals with long necks this article is certainly for you, read on as we will be familiarizing you with these wonderful long-necked animals around the world.
21 Animals With Long Necks
Here’s a list of the most popular animals with long necks.
1. Giraffes
This animal is top of the list for a reason, they are the tallest animal on land and also hold the trophy as the animal with the longest neck. You have probably seen them munching on grass either on your screen or in the zoo, well that’s because they are strictly herbivores.
A giraffe’s average neck length ranges from 7-8 feet and the overall height of an adult giraffe is 18 feet (500-600cm). Their long necks help them reach trees that would normally be out of reach for other animals which is an advantage, especially in droughts when grasses and plants are scarce.
It may look weird when giraffes are drinking water, their legs are bent almost to their knees, this however is the downside of possessing extremely long necks. In this position, giraffes are very vulnerable to attacks from predators.
Furthermore, male giraffes use their long necks as weapons when fighting another male for dominance. Usually, the giraffe with the weaker neck loses, and the champion gets to mate with the female they were trying to impress with their strengths.
2. Camels
The list may not be complete without camels, camels are unique with their pronounced curved long necks and hump on their backs that keep them cool in hot conditions. These easy-going animals are herbivores as well. Camels are about 6-8 feet above the ground, so their long necks are necessary for grazing as most of their preferred meals are ground vegetation.
Camels can stay weeks or even months without food or water, when there is a famine the sac that stores fatty tissues in their hump starts distributing the fat thereby sustaining the camel for a very long time. this is why they are mostly used as a means of transportation in deserts.
There is a misconception that their humps serve as a storage tank for water but as a matter of fact, it stores fatty tissues. Camels are very popular animals in North Africa, Mongolia, the Gobi desert of China, and many Arab countries.
3. Ostriches
You honestly don’t want to piss off an ostrich, these flightless birds are mostly found in Africa and some regions in the Middle East. Their long necks make it easy for them to reach out to meals that may be a distance away from them.
More so it also helps them spot danger close by in time. Ostriches are very unique birds, they easily feel threatened and attack with their powerful legs which often leads to the death of the offender. These 6-9 feet tall birds can produce15 cm-long eggs.
4. Gerenuks
Also known as giraffe gazelle, Gerenuks are commonly found in some African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, and Ethiopia. They are mostly the unfortunate animals on the food chain but their long necks and slender legs that facilitate them to run fast, and give them a higher chance of surviving in the wild full of predators.
Their necks are 7-10 inches long and their overall body height is 3 to 5 feet, in captivity gerenuk can live up to 12 years but their lifespan decrease to a maximum of 8 years in the wild.
5. Rheas
These are big south American birds, in drought seasons their long necks help them eat from high trees. Rhea also known as American rhea or gray rhea are flightless birds. They can be found in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Bolivia.
They are slightly related to ostriches and emu. Greater Rheas as many would prefer to call them can eat plants, grasses, and fruits they also don’t mind munching on insects, lizards, and smaller birds. These birds are super friendly and would run away from danger in a zigzag format.
6. Emus
Emus are giant birds, they rank as the second-largest bird in the world after the ostrich. They first lived in Australia after which they are seen in a lot of zoos across the country. These birds have long necks that can help them foresee potential threats hiding in the bush.
Their bodies are covered in soft feathers that keep them warm in cold weather. These big birds are extremely dangerous when they ay are angry, they can attack with their legs and beaks and can inflict serious injuries.
7. Black Swans
Black swans precisely have the longest necks of all other swans. When agitated they elongate their necks and spread their wings to send a message to intruders to back off.
Swans are water birds mostly found in New Zealand and Australia. Their long, curved necks help them successfully hunt for fish and other vegetation under water which is their major source of food.
8. Llamas
They look almost like camels but the shorter version. They are scattered around the world but are most dominant in North America, Europe, and Australia. They are herbivores and you never see a lone llama as they prefer to live in a herd. Their necks are long and it makes it easier for them to graze.
Llamas can be differentiated from alpacas by their height and weight, they are usually bigger than alpacas and can show aggression by spitting when agitated. Llamas are bold animals that can protect smaller livestock from predators like coyotes.
9. Flamingos
Flamingos love the water, these tropical birds use their long necks to catch their prey. Their necks are very flexible and are an excellent adaptation for their long legs. Flamingo’s long necks can turn upside down to filter the water and hunt for food.
Mature flamingoes can stand as tall as 4-5 feet, they are commonly found in the West Indies, South America, and Yucatan.
10. Great Egrets
Egrets are beautiful birds with S-shaped long necks. Predominantly a white-colored bird, egrets use their long necks to hunt. They live close to swamps, rivers, and wetlands as a whole because their main food source is aquatic animals.
Great egrets are related to herons and they are mostly 3.5 feet tall.
11. Anhingas
Many know these birds as snake birds or devil birds. Anhinga wetland birds as they stay around rivers, marshes, and saltwater. They have long necks with incredibly sharp beaks they use to strike their prey which usually consists of insects, fishes, water snakes, crayfish, and shrimps.
12. Horses
It’s no news that horses have long necks which suit them as it helps balance their weight for stamina whilst running. Their long necks also help them graze better and give them a better chance of survival. Horses are herbivores for this reason they will prefer to inhabit grasslands.
In ancient times, horses were used as a means of transportation, their legs can are fast and their necks help to keep them steady.
13. Zebras
Zebras have a slight resemblance to horses, unique for their white and black stripes. They are herbivores and so their long necks enable them to reach up to plants below and above to feed on as they go. It is believed that zebras’ color helps to camouflage them from predators. These grazers prefer to stick together as this gives them a better shot at surviving in the wild.
14. Alpacas
A member of the camelid family, Alpacas also have long necks, the furs around the necks, and their entire bodies are soft, full, thick, and woolly. This is to keep them very warm in the winter. Initially, alpacas are tree leaves eaters (thanks to their long necks) but these days they graze on grass instead.
16. Snake-Necked Turtles
Not the usual turtle you are used to, the snake-necked turtle is mostly found in New Guinea and Australia. This particular species of turtle’s long neck looks similar to that of a snake when raised above water or ground. They adopt the hunting style of snakes and their main meal usually includes crayfish, frogs, tadpoles, and fishes.
17. Scarlet Ibis
The colorful and magnificent birds most live in South America, their long-necked feature is an advantage to them as it helps them sight preys, their long legs, on the other hand, enable them to move swiftly when they hunt.
18. Okapis
Okapis are herbivorous mammals, otherwise known as Congolese giraffes. These animals share similar features as giraffes. They use their strong necks to defend themselves as well as reach out for leaves on trees.
19. King Vultures
King vulture is a large bird that feeds on carcasses, their long necks have no feathers on them to avoid blood sticking to their neck region. In cold temperatures, the king vulture tucks its neck towards its body to conserve heat. Unlike other species of vultures, the king vulture stands out with its bald and bare necks which usually have different colors such as red, yellow, blue, orange, and purple
20. Komodo Dragons
Mostly dominant in Indonesian islands, these venomous lizards are strictly carnivorous. They are one of the largest lizards in the world, their strong and long neck comes to use when they need to pull the flesh off their prey.
21. Herons
Herons are carnivorous birds with long necks, and like other hunter birds, their long necks are used for a successful kill. Whilst they are swimming for food, the long necks help them observe their surroundings.
Conclusion
These are the 21 animals around the world with long necks. You pretty much now understand how their long necks raise the bar for the animals and give them a higher chance to survive in the wild.
But in some cases, it is what gives them away.
