Interesting Facts About Okapis
Okapi (Photo Credit: Charles D P Miller / CC BY 2.0)
- The okapi is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest. It is located in Central Africa. It is most closely related to the giraffe.
- The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae.
- Okapis have reddish dark backs, with striking horizontal white stripes on the front and back legs, making them resemble zebras from a distance.
- The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe except neck.
Okapi (Photo Credit: Raul654 / CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Okapis have much shorter neck.
- Okapi have very long flexible tongues used to strip leaves and buds from trees.
- Okapis are feeding on tree leaves and buds, grasses, ferns, fruits and fungi.
- Many of the plant species on which okapis feed are poisonous to humans.
Okapi Tongue (Photo Credit: Yummifruitbat / CC BY-SA 2.0)
