Okapi
Okapi Johnstoni
Classifications
Domain Eukarya: have a nucleus, single celled or multicellular, living organisms
Phylum Chordata: defined as organisms that possess a structure called a notochord, Bilateral symmetry, Complete digestive system
SubPhylum Vertebrata: bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton, cranium, visceral arches, limb gridles, 2 pairs of appendages, kidneys with ducts to drain waste to an exterior digestive system with large digestive glands, liver, and pancreas
Class Mammalia: Mammals have hair at some point during their development, typically characterized by their highly differentiated teeth, lower jaw made up of single bone
Order Artiodactyle: most diverse, large, terrestrial alive today, live in relatively open habitats, structure of the foot is especially diagnostic, obligated herbivores, consisting of browsers, grazers and mixed feeders
Family Giraffidae: family incluldes only two living species, restricted to Subsaharan Africa, lack sagittal crests, rough, thickened areas near the junction of the nasals and frontals, have a complex four-chambered, ruminating stomach
Map
Okapi eating
Newborn Okapi
Characteristics
Common Characteristics
Length: 2.5 m for both sexes
Weight: males: 180-260 kg female: 240-356 kg
Camouflage: deep velvety purple black, face is whitish except for a dark gray crown, blackish muzzle
Color/body form: white horizontal stripes on rump, upper front legs with anklets and stocking on lower legs, cheeks, throat, rear belly whitish grey tan, back & sides velvety, dark reddish-brown
Diet: young shoots, buds, grass, leaves, fruits, ferns
Newborn: can stand up within 30 min, same coloring as an adult but have a short fringe of hair along their spine, mothers hide their newborn in one spot, called calf or calves, starts trying solid food at just three weeks, triple their size by the end of their second month, do not reach full adult size until three years of age
Habitat: Rain forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, River banks, stream beds, forest growth
Why is it related to a giraffe: its prehensile tongue, its habitat, very large upright ears
Predators: Humans, leopards, golden cats
Physical Adaptations
pluck their tongue while they eat, this helps the Okapi handle their food. Okapi
rely a lot on their sharp hearing to warn them of danger. If predators were to sneak up behind them they would be able to hear them ahead of time and run away to safety. They are able to pick up even the softest of sounds with their sensitive ears. Their long necks help the Okapi to reach the majority of their body, so they can keep themselves clean. Okapi have a great camouflage to help them blend with their environment. Their stripes also help the young follow their mom through the rain forest at night. Having a very oily skin helps the water slide off quickly keeping them dry.
Behavioral Adaptations
References
Burton, M. (2002). Okapi. In International wildlife encyclopedia (3rd ed., Vol. 13, pp. 1786-1787). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
Newborn okapi. (n.d.). Newborn Okapi. Retrieved from Google database.
Okapi. (n.d.). Okapi. Retrieved from Wikipedia database.
Palkovacs, E. 2000. "Okapia johnstoni" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 11, 2015 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Okapia_johnstoni