Okapi


 * Basic Information**: The Okapi is the Giraffe's unusual cousin, a cousin who lives in the Ituri Rainforest in Central Africa. It is a mammal that appears to have the striped marks similar to that of a Zebra, but is in fact not related to the Zebra but the Giraffe. The Okapi is a survivor of the primitive short necked giraffe's that lived more than 5 million years ago during the Miocene and Pilocene epochs and can be called the living fossil; a virtually unchanged living descendent of extinct animals according to the the article The Elusive Okapi: The Giraffe's Unusual Cousin.The Okapi was discovered by a British explorer, Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston, in 1901. The appearance of an Okapi is unique; thay have dark bodies with strips on the lower body similar to that of a Zebra.
 * Species name**: //Okapi johnstoni//


 * Photograhpy**:


 * Scientific Classification**:
 * Domain || Eukarya ||
 * Kingdom || Anamalia ||
 * Phylum || Chordata ||
 * Class || Mammalia ||
 * Order || Artiodactyla ||
 * Family || Giraffedae ||
 * Genus || Okapi ||
 * Species || Okapi johnstoni ||


 * Habitat**: As said before, Okapi's live in the Ituri Rainforest in Central Africa; specifically they are only found in the North East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were found in these forests by a British explorer, and they were the last and only large mammal to remain hidden from the world until the 20th century. Usually they are found near a water source, and are solitary beings, only rarely will they be seen in small family groups or with other to mate. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas, but they can venture out into latitudes between 500 and 1,000 m. The Ituri Rainforest is a protected part of Ituri, home to 5,000 of the world's 30,000 remaining Okapis. Plants in the forest include specific plants called epiphytes; these are plants that grow on other plants in order to get all of the moisture and light from the surrounding air or rain. There are also other epiphytes that climb upward; one example being lianas, who start from the ground and lean on a tree for support. In these types of forest the tropical climate is ideal, but forest plants are crowded together and survival is difficult. Also mentioned by Tom Jackson in his book //Tropical Forests,// the dramatic scenery and tumbling waterfalls make this hilly [Ituri Rainforest] corner of the Congo very beautiful. In these forests Okapi eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi. Many of the plants they eat are considered posionous to humans. Even trees that are burnt are eaten, as determined by the charcoal found in their feceas. What is also indicated is that the Okapi's get their mineral and salt requirements mainly by a sulphurous, slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams.


 * Physiology**: In weight the males range from 200-300 kg while the females weigh from 25-50 kg. The females are 4.2 cm ( 1.7 in) while the males are on average 5ft. The length for both sexes is on average 8 ft. They have even-toed ruminants related to giraffes that are adapted for dense forest living. They have large boney capsules enclosing the middle ear bones that enhance hearing. The Okapi Muzzle is narrow, with lips that are mobile and muscular; there are suited for selective feeding on certain plants. Their tongues are long, even longer than a girafee's, and can be extended 25 cm beyond its snout to groom the whole body. Their eyesight is poor and their Cervical vertebrae is not as long as that of a Girafee's. What is strange is that they have odd chromosome numbers;there numbers may be 45 or even 44. They do have sexual dimorphism; being that the males are larger than the females and that the males also have 6 inch horns on their skulls. Okapi's are herbivores; they only eat grass and leaves. They are ruminant; they have four parts in their stomachs. The process goes like this: first, the food is swallowed and travels down the compartment called the Rumen; then it is digested through to the Reticulum. The food isn't quite digested enough in these two compartments so the Okapi simply regurgitates it back up and chewes it some more. It is sent back down to the third compartment; called the omasum and the fourth is called the abomasum. This is where the food is fully digested.




 * Species Interactions**: This is not necessarily related to species interaction, but it is said that Okapi's are diurnal, meaning they move during both daylight and night hours. The Okapi remains a solitary creature; only 10% of its time is spent with other organsims; but there is social gromming in captives. There has never been groups of more than three ever recorded except in captivity. Calves remain with their mother for 2-6 months after birth. Males and females spend little time with each other; generally speaking they spend little time with any animals. Speaking territorial, and in captivity, males mark things like bushes and trees with urine; which occurs most often during courtship. They also rub their necks against tree trunks to mark their territory. The three most recognizable sounds that okapi's make are the “chuff,” “moan,” and “bleat.” Chuffs are used when okapi meet each other. Infant okapi bleat when they lose contact with their mother or are in danger. Males use a soft moan during courtship. But when it comes to mating, males commence in a ritual like fighting with head butting, charging, and neck fighting. Dominant Okapi's have an erect head and neck posture while subordinates usually have their neck and head lowered to the ground. On a lighter note, all ages participate in "play behavior." Gambols and capers along with "the pooky" which is when their heads are low and forward, and their tail wags rapidly, are all forms of play. But Okapi's may be solitary, but they are not predators; they are prey. Leopards represent an adult Okapi's main cause of death. For a young Okapi, several cat and golden cats are there predators. Not only animals, but also humans; the African rainforest natives use the Okapi skins for belts.


 * Reproduction**: The Okapi female gives birth to a single calf that can weigh up to 30 kilograms; their weight doubles within the first month due to their mothers milk. Newborns can stand within thirty mintues after being born. Their first two months are usually spent alone; the mother only comes to feed the calf and then they are hidden away in vegetation. The reason is so that they won't attract predators to the infant okapi's. When the calf is big enough the mother and infant are together most of the time due to the lessened threat of predation. Male Okapi's are ready to produce between 2 to 4 years; females being 1 1/2 to 2 years. While in zoos they live as long as thrity years; in the wild it is unknown.



Surprisingly, the Okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians before the Europeans. This was proven when an ancient carved image of an animal, which presumably looked like and Okapi, was discovered in Egypt. Europeans in Africa recall that for years the Okapi was called the, "African Unicorn." Initially after their European discovery many tried to capture them and force them into zoos; which caused a high fatality rate due to the lengthy travels. Also strange is that the okapi is the only animal capable of cleaning its ears with its tongue. The name "Okapi" is a combination of the Lese language words "Oka" meaning "to cut" and "kpi" meaning to decorate stripes on arrows. Therefore the mysterious "African Unicorn," is said to decorate itself with stripes.
 * Free Topic**: Interesting and strange facts

Animal Corner. "Rainforest Okapi." animalcorner.co. April 15, 2011. []
 * Works Cited**:

Benirschke & Hagey 2006.Colbert 1938. Daag & Forster 1982.Spinage 1968. []

P.L. Sclater (1901) Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1901 vol. I p. 50.

Jackson, Tom. //Tropical Forests//. Chicago : Raintree, 2003. Print.

Palkovacs, E. 2000. "Okapia johnstoni"(On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 11, 2011 [].

Sentman, Everett. "Okapi." //Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia.// Grolier Online, 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2011.

Ryan Callen. //Okapi Digestive System.//Glogster.com,2010. []

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