Okapi
Okapia johnstoni · Vertebrate mammal; Warm-blooded; Wild and elusive
Animal Family
Giraffidae, order Artiodactyla, class Mammalia
Animal Category
Wild Herbivore; Endangered Species; Forest Ruminant
Breed / Variety
Monotypic species (no recognized subspecies); closest living relative is the Giraffe
Conservation Status
Endangered (IUCN Red List); population decreasing due to poaching, mining, and habitat loss in the DRC.
About This Creature
Medium-sized hoofed mammal, standing 1.5-1.7m tall at the shoulder. It has a mahogany-brown velvet body, white 'zebra' stripes on the hindquarters and upper legs, and a long flexible neck.
Physical Characteristics
Prehensile blue/black tongue (up to 12-14 inches); large upright ears; sloped back; males have skin-covered horns called ossicones; scent glands on feet.
Behavior & Temperament
Solitary and reclusive; Diurnal; communicates via low-frequency infrasound and scent marking; mothers used 'silent' calls to communicate with calves.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Central Africa, specifically the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Habitat
Dense tropical rainforests; Terrestrial and Arboreal browser; altitudes between 500 and 1,500 meters
Diet & Nutrition
Herbivore (Folivore/Browser); eats tree leaves, buds, fungi, and fruit; consumes charcoal and salt-rich clay for minerals; uses prehensile tongue to strip branches.
Lifespan & Health
20–30 years in captivity, likely less in the wild; 14-15 month gestation; single calf per litter; vulnerable to leopards and habitat fragmentation.
Special Characteristics
Known as the 'Forest Giraffe'; stripes serve as 'follow me' signals for calves in dark forests; discovered by Western science only in 1901.
Ecological Information
Primary browser; acts as a seed disperser; occupies a niche as the largest forest-dwelling herbivore in its range; population stability indicates forest health.
Notes
Okapi