Jean Baptiste de Lamarck (1744 - 1829)
In full, Jean-Baptiste
Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck, 18th
century French evolutionist, best known for his "Zoological
Philosophy" (1809) which advanced the first modern
theory of evolution, including a concept of inheritance of acquired
characteristics.
Lamarck offered as a hypothetical explanation
of the Giraffe's neck that the animals stretched them in order
to reach the leaves at the tops of trees, and that this
stretching was passed on to the offspring of the successful
Giraffes. Lamarck's book was
presented without supporting evidence: for example, he himself
had never seen giraffes feeding. As a member of the French
aristocracy who sided with the Revolution, his ideas were
suspect both on the Continent and in Britain.
Modern studies have shown that Giraffes feed near the middle of trees. Males use their necks and heads as clubs in agonistic combat over access to females: sexual selection on longer necks provide mechanical advantage.