All About The Okapi

TAXONOMY

Describer (Date): Sclater (1901)
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Okapia
Species: O. johnstoni

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head/Body Length: 2.5 m average (8 ft)
Shoulder Height: M 1.5 m (4.9 ft); F slightly
taller (5 ft)
Tail: 300-420 mm (1-1.4 ft)
Weight: Adult range: 200-300 kg (441-661 lbs)
Coat: Tapered white horizontal stripes on rump and
upper front legs with anklets and stockings on
lower legs. Cheeks, throat, and rear belly are
whitish to gray or tan. Back and sides velvety,
dark reddish-brown.
Horns: M: small, hair-covered horns < 15cm (.5ft);
F: hair whorls in place of horns.

DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS

Range: Central Africa, Democratic
Republic of Congo
Habitat: Dense, tropical forests.
IUCN Status: Near Threatened (Version 3.1)
CITES/Appendix: II
Population in Wild: unknown;
rough estimate of 10,000 to 35,000
individuals in dense forest habitat
ISIS captive population

BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY

Locomotion: A pacing gait
Activity Cycle: Diurnal
Social Groups: Generally solitary.
Communication: More vocalizations than in
giraffes. Sounds include the chuff, moan, and bleat;
whistles and bellows in situations of acute distress.
Diet: Some 100 species of plants; a selective
browser choosing mainly young sun-loving
plants in dense forest clearings.
Predators: Humans, leopards; serval and
golden cats prey on calves.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Sexual Maturity: F - about 2 years;
M - 2 years (physical maturity 3 years)
Gestation: 414 - 493 days (about 15 months)
Litter Size: 1 offspring. One record of twinning
Birth weight: 14-30 kg (31 - 66 lb)
Birth coat: Similar with stiff black
dorsal mane and pseudo-eyelashes.
Age at Weaning: Roughly 6 months.

SPECIES HIGHLIGHTS

Feature Facts: Prehensile tongue 25 cm long;
can groom their own eyes, ears, and nostrils
with this tongue.
Society Press: San Diego Zoo received its
first okapi as a gift from the Belgian
government in 1956.