Key Information
Okapi
| Species | Okapi johnstoni |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4 ft 11 in |
| Length | 8 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 440 to 770 lb |
| Life Span | 20 to 30 years |
| Classification | Mammalia > Artiodactyla > Giraffidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered |
| Habitat | Forests |
Learning Point
- Okapi are a kind of giraffe-like mammal that lives in central Africa. An unusual looking animal, it has beautiful stripes, though it is smaller that a giraffe is. It was one of the last large mammals discovered on Earth, and live in the canopy forests, making it hard to find them, but also putting them at risk through logging.
Project
- Draw an Okapi family.
Location
| Places | Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa |
Fun Facts
- Although unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, it might have been painted on one of the buildings of the Persians in the 5th century BCE.
- The pygmies of Congo call the okapi a horse, but it has a more giraffe-like form.
- The males have ossicones, which look like horns, but the females don’t, just having tufts of hair.
- The tongue is used to groom their ears and eyes, and helps them eat the vegetation that is lower in the forest.
Past Lessons
| 127 | May 22, 2024 | (North America) |