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Giraffe -

Let's start with the giraffe, the tallest mammal on the planet. A distinguishing characteristic of this beautiful beast is its long neck, which can be up to seven feet (2.13 m) in length. But a giraffe isn't the only creature on the planet with a head for heights, not by a long stretch.

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Dromedary camel -

The tallest of the three species of camel, the dromedary has a long curved neck that can reach an impressive six feet (1.82 m) in length. This enables the animal to feed on ground vegetation.

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Llama -

A cousin of the dromedary, the llama is a domesticated livestock species. It also has a long neck, averaging around four feet (1.21 m), which facilitates grazing.

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Alpaca -

The alpaca belongs to the same family of camelids as the dromedary and the llama. The neck of this species can reach over three feet (about one meter) in length, which helps it feed on tree leaves. Their elongated necks also serve as watchtowers, providing these sheep-like animals with the height they need to keep an eye out for predators.

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Common ostrich -

A flightless bird of giant proportions, the common ostrich is the largest bird species on the planet. The neck of an adult ostrich can stretch nearly three feet (one meter), affording it an excellent range of vision.

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Anhinga -

Approximately 35 inches (89 cm) in length, the anhinga, or darter, is a water bird and a stalking predator, spearing fish and other small prey using its sharp, slender beak. This species is nicknamed snakebird for the fact that, when swimming, only the neck appears above water, thus resembling a serpent ready to strike.

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Black swan -

The neck of the black swan is long (relatively the longest neck among the swan family) and is nearly always seen characteristically curved in the shape of an "S."

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Greater flamingo -

Elegant and graceful both on land and in flight, the greater flamingo ranks among the most recognized bird species in the world. The greater flamingo is the largest living species of flamingo, with a famously long neck to better reach prey and to preen its feathers.

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Whooper swan -

So named for its call, which consists of a series of loud, resonant 'whoops' not unlike bugle calls, the whooper swan is a large, heavy bird identified by the marked yellow coloring of its bill. Like all swans, this species has a pronounced and flexible neck.

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Komodo dragon -

Named for the Indonesian island of Komodo, this big, heavyset apex predator is the largest extant species of lizard. Males can grow to nearly 10 feet (3 m) in length, of which one foot (0.5 m) is tough, solid neck. The Komodo dragon is registered as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Monitor lizard -

A close relative of the Komodo dragon, the monitor lizard also possesses a hefty, barrel-shaped neck, again nearly one foot (0.5 m) in length.

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Jabiru -

The name jabiru comes from the Tupi–Guaraní language and means "swollen neck." A member of the stork family, the jabiru appears ungainly on the ground, but is a powerful and graceful flier.

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Snake-necked turtle -

Snake-necked turtles are well adapted to water, the distance between their heads and shoulders increased dramatically by a long, sinewy neck that allows them to practically submerge while still being able to breathe.

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Griffon vulture -

While not the largest of its kind out there, the griffon vulture has arguably the longest neck of the vulture family—a hugely useful asset when leaning inside the carcass of a dead animal!

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Greater rhea -

Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, the greater rhea is a lanky, flightless bird that uses its exceptionally long neck essentially as a feeding utensil and to see further as protection against predators.

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Gerenuk -

This medium-sized antelope has a ridiculously long neck, and it's no surprise that gerenuk in the Somali language means "giraffe neck." In fact, this particular species is sometimes referred to as the giraffe gazelle. The animal is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

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Scarlet ibis -

The long, narrow, decurved bill of the scarlet ibis extends from a slender, elongated neck—a physical characteristic of ibis species. However, this bird is unique in that it's the only shorebird with red coloration in the world.

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Giraffe weevil -

The long-necked superstar of the insect world is the aptly named giraffe weevil. Males have necks two to three times the size of their female counterparts and use them for combat, attracting mates, building nests, and acquiring resources. The giraffe weevil is an increasing scarce insect, listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened.

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Emu -

Another huge, flightless bird, the emu uses its long, flexible neck to reach tasty, out-of-reach tree leaves. It's also used as an important means of staying cool in the heat and keeping warm in cooler weather, the neck serving as a radiator to control the emu's head temperature.

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Snakefly -

The snakefly is not what it appears to be: the long 'neck' is actually an extension of its thorax. The snakefly's long, slender body is what gives this predatory insect its name.

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Sarus crane -

The runway model of the bird world, the regal sarus crane is the largest member of the crane family. It's easily distinguished from other cranes by its overall gray color and the contrasting red head and elongated upper neck. The sarus crane is becoming increasingly scarce, a fact exemplified by its Vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List.

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Whooping crane -

The whooping crane is another tall and graceful crane, but one in more peril than the sarus crane. This handsome bird appears on the IUCN Red List as Endangered. The tallest bird native to North America, the whooping crane's long neck is kept arrow-straight during flight.

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Great egret -

Unlike storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight, ibises retract their necks when airborne. But they make up for this shortcoming on land by extending them full stretch when on the lookout for prey and intruders. The great egret is the tallest of the species.

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Goliath heron -

Similarly, the goliath heron often sticks its neck out while hunting. This is the world's largest living heron, reaching heights of five feet (1.52 m), much of which is divided between the bird's legs and neck.

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Mute swan -

A much-loved species, the mute swan is one of the heaviest extant flying birds. Despite its graceful appearance, mute swans can be very aggressive in defense of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. To that end, they'll extend their long necks in an offensive gesture, hiss loudly, and attempt to bite anything or anybody that causes them displeasure.

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Thomson's gazelle -

Not quite in the same league as the aforementioned gerenuk, the Thomson's gazelle nonetheless possesses a long neck relative to its size. The species is the fourth-fastest land animal, after the cheetah (its main predator), pronghorn, and springbok.

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Galápagos giant tortoise -

The largest living species of tortoise, the venerable Galápagos giant tortoise is one of the longest-lived vertebrates, regularly celebrating a century of life. A tortoise can withdraw its head, neck, and forelimbs into its shell for protection. But it can also extend its neck, usually when foraging for food.

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Flightless cormorant -

Another long-necked resident of the Galápagos Islands is the extraordinary flightless cormorant. It is unique in that it is the only known cormorant that has lost the ability to fly.

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Dalmatian pelican -

The Dalmatian pelican is the largest member of the pelican family, and arguably the world's largest freshwater bird. And it has a neck to prove it, though it's often curled up in an "S" shape, rather like the black swan.

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Capybara -

The capybara makes this list by virtue of the fact that it is the world's largest rodent, therefore the member of the order Rodentia with the longest—and broadest—neck.

Sources: (IUCN) (Fact Animal) (World Wildlife Fund)

See also: The cuddly world of rodents

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