interesting okapi facts?

Question

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like evolution, or something...

Answer 1

The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a mammal of the Ituri Rainforest in central Africa. Although it bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The resemblance it bears to both the zebra and giraffe led some to believe it is a cross between the two, but despite the appearance of certain similarities, it is in fact not closely related to the zebra. Native just to the Ituri forests situated in the north east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was known only to the local people until 1901.

Characteristics
Okapis have dark bodies, with striking horizontal white stripes on the back legs, making them resemble zebras from a distance. These markings are thought to be "follow me" markings intended to help young follow their mothers through the dense rain forest, and also serve as camouflage. The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe, except that okapis have much shorter necks. Both species have very long (apx. 30 cm or 12 inch), flexible, blue tongues that they use to strip leaves and buds from trees. The tongue of an okapi is long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears: it is one of the few mammals that can lick its own ears. Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns called "ossicones". They have large ears which help them detect their predator, the leopard.

Okapis are 1.9 to 2.5 m (8.1 ft) long and stand 1.5 to 2.0 m (6.5 ft) high at the shoulder. They have a 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) long tail. Their weight ranges from 200 to 250 kg (465 to 550 lb).

In addition to tree leaves and buds, okapis eat grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi. Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are known to be poisonous to humans. Examination of okapi feces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well. Field observations indicate that the okapi's mineral and salt requirements are filled primarily by a sulfurous, slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams.

Okapis are largely diurnal and essentially solitary, coming together only to breed. and forage along fixed, well-trodden paths through the forest. Okapis occur alone or in mother-offspring pairs. They have overlapping home ranges of several square kilometers and typically occur at densities of about 0.6 animals per square kilometer. The home ranges of males are generally slightly larger that those of females. Although they are not social animals, okapis tolerate each other in the wild and may even feed in small groups for short periods of time.

Only one infant is born at a time, between August and October, weighing between 14 to 30 kg (30 and 65 lb). Their life span in captivity ranges from 15 to over 30 years, but data from wild populations is unavailable. Okapi courtship and mating rituals are known only from observations done in zoos. Partners begin courtship by circling, sniffing, and licking each other. Eventually, the male asserts his dominance by extending his neck, tossing his head, and thrusting one leg foreward. This display is followed by mounting and copulation. After mating, the male and female part. The gestation period lasts about 440 days, and females retreat into dense forest vegetation to give birth. They are precocial and may nurse after 21 minutes and attempt to stand after just 16 minutes. Young spend the first day or two of life following the mother around and exploring the environment. After this, they find a suitable hiding spot and make a nest. For the next two months, they spend 80% of their time in this nest. Hiding behavior appears to promote rapid growth and provides protection from predators. A disturbed calf lies motionless in its nest, and a female okapi will rush to aggressively defend her calf from danger. During the hiding stage, young nurse relatively infrequently and do not defecate. These strategies help keep them undetected by predators. Weaning occurs at about 6 months, although young may continue to suckle for more than a year. Young males begin developing horns at one year of age, and both males and females reach adult size at about three years. In captivity, the youngest female to breed was 1 year 7 months old, and the youngest male was 2 years 2 months old.

Okapis have several methods of communicating their territory, including scent glands on each foot that leave behind a tar-like substance which signals their passage, as well as urine marking. Males are protective of their territory, but allow females to pass through their domain to forage.

Okapis prefer altitudes between 500 and 1,000 m, although they may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern montane rainforests. The range of the okapi is limited by high montane forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel/Sudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas.

The okapi is the symbol of cryptozoology.

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Answer 2

A ruminant forest mammal (Okapia johnstoni) of the Congo River basin in Africa, related to the giraffe but smaller and having a short neck, reddish-brown body, creamy white cheeks, and whitish stripes and bands on the legs.
It inhabits the almost sunless rain forests of the upper Congo and feeds on leaves. Its shape is reminiscent of a giraffe's, but it is smaller, with a much shorter neck. It is deep reddish brown with black and white zebra-striped legs. Its head is giraffelike and in the male bears blunt skin-covered horns. The okapi was unknown to zoologists until the beginning of the 20th cent. It is classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla, family Giraffidae.
Within its habitat, the okapi's only natural enemy is the leopard. If confronted by a leopard, the normally peaceful okapi will lash out with its hooves in defense. Illegal hunting by local tribesmen is also a threat to the okapi.

KEY FACTS

Sizes
Length: 6-7 ft.
Height to shoulder: 5 ft.
Weight: 450-550 lb.

Breeding
Sexual maturity: Females, from 19 months. Males, later.
Mating sason: Usually May-June or November-December, but can occur anytime.
Gestation:14-16 months.
Gestation:14-16 months.

Lifestyle
Habit: Solitary, or small temporary groups.
Diet: Leaves, fruit, and seeds.
Call: Cough.Female bellows to attract male. Young bleats.
Lifespan: Oldest captive, 33 years.

Related Species
The okapi's closest relative is the giraffe, the only other species in the same family.

Native pygmies of the Congo gave the okapi its name, describing it to explorers as okhapi.
At 14 inches, the okapi's tongue is so long that it can lick its eyelids to clean them.
The okapi keeps itself very clearn by licking its body. Zoo keepers take advantage of this habit when an okapi needs medication by pouring it over the animal's back. The okapi licks it off at once and ingests the medicine.
1918 was the first year an okapi was kept in a zoo, but it was kept in a zoo, but it was not until the 1950s that one was successfully bred and raised in captivity.
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