General Characteristics

Head to Body Length : 150 to 170 cm (5 - 5.6 feet)

Tail Length : 30-42 cm  (12-16.8 in )

Tongue length : 14  inches 

Height :  150-170 cm (5-5.6 ft )

Weight :   200 - 300 kg (465 lbs-550 lbs) 

Description : The Okapi is animal which has got velvet-like coat. It is generally dark chestnut-brown or purplish red in color, with distinctive pattern of horizontal stripes, much like those of a zebra, on the upper legs.  The lower legs are white, with dark garters at the joints.  The vaguely horse-like head is generally lighter, with a black muzzle, and is supported by a thick neck.  The ears are large, and the black tongue is long and prehensile.  The body is sloped, with the forequarters much higher than the rear.  Males have two skin covered 'horns'  or knobs on the forehead which develop between one and five years of age.

Range - Okapi's live in Northeastern Zaire and also in Central Africa

Habitat - They live in tropical rainforest.

Diet -   It eats leaves, grasses, twigs, fruits and other plant parts.

What type of animal is it - herbivore

Why it is a rare animal - The okapi uses its Prehensile tongue for eating. The okapi has a distinctive pattern of horizontal stripes, much like those of a zebra, on the upper legs. Then has a long neck like a giraffe.

This animal is unique because it can be found only in some parts of the world, and not distributed like other animals for example tigers. You can find them only in some zoos like San Diego wildlife animal park. The Okapi have more unique things like Prehensile Tongue for eating, Long legs , Small horns, Narrow head , Peculiar lobed lower canines.

Gestation : 440 days

Longevity :  just over 30 years

 

            Okapi