The reason why the giraffes' front legs are longer than their hindlegs is because of the difined muscular development on the base of their neck. Most of their muscle is found in their neck, which helps it get water down low or eat plants off trees up high. This also helps keep up the tall neck, and they need very strong muscles to keep their neck up right. Another muscular adaptation is that their tongues can extend up to 18 inches. This helps them because it acts as an extension to their neck, so if there is something too high, they can use their tongue to help reach.