Okapi

The okapi (*Okapia johnstoni*) is a unique mammal found in the rainforests of Africa.

While its striped legs might make it look like a zebra, it is actually the only living relative of the giraffe. Together, they are the only members of the family Giraffidae. Most okapis live in the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, genetic testing suggests some populations live southwest of the Congo River as well. They live in canopy forests at altitudes between 500 and 1,500 meters.

An okapi has several physical adaptations for life in a dense tropical forest. Its coat is chocolate or reddish-brown, which contrasts with white horizontal stripes on its legs and ankles. These markings provide camouflage among the forest vegetation. The okapi has a long neck and very large, flexible ears. Its large auditory bullae, which are bones in the ear, allow for a strong sense of hearing. To see in the dim light of the forest, it has many rod cells in its retina.

The okapi also has a very long, black tongue. It uses this tongue to pluck buds, leaves, and fruits. It even uses its tongue to groom its own eyes and ears.

Okapis are herbivores that eat a wide variety of plants. They feed on tree leaves, buds, grasses, ferns, fruits, and fungi. In the Ituri Forest, they are the only known mammals that feed solely on understory vegetation. They prefer to feed in treefall gaps where new plants grow. The okapi can eat over 100 different species of plants. Some of these plants are actually poisonous to humans. To digest this food, they have a large cecum and colon. This helps them break down plant cell walls through microbial digestion.

There is a noticeable difference between male and female okapis, a trait called sexual dimorphism.

Males have short, hair-covered horn-like structures called ossicones. These ossicones are less than 15 centimeters long. Females do not have ossicones, but they have hair whorls on their heads instead. On average, females are taller and have redder coats than males. Both sexes share a unique way of walking called a pacing gait. This means they move both legs on one side of the body at the same time.

For a long time, Western scientists did not know the okapi existed. People in Africa had spoken of a mysterious animal, sometimes called the "African unicorn." In 1887, explorer Henry Morton Stanley wrote about a strange animal in the Congo. Later, Sir Harry Johnston found okapi tracks and pieces of striped skin. He did not see a live okapi, but he did find a skull. This skull proved the animal was a relative of the giraffe. In 1901, the species was formally recognized as *Okapia johnstoni*.

Okapis have a complex social and reproductive life. They are essentially solitary animals that only come together to breed. Males and females have different home ranges, with males migrating continuously. Males often mark their territories using urine.

The gestation period for an okapi is about 440 to 450 days. After this time, a female usually gives birth to a single calf. The mother keeps the juvenile hidden for safety. The calf begins eating solid food at three months and is weaned at six months.

The okapi is currently classified as an endangered species by the IUCN.

Their populations are declining due to several major threats. Habitat loss from logging and human settlement is a primary concern. Illegal mining and hunting for skin and bushmeat also hurt their numbers. To combat these issues, the Okapi Conservation Project was established in 1987. Scientists also study their evolution to understand their place in history. A 2016 genetic study found that the common ancestor of giraffes and okapis lived about 11.5 million years ago.