Okapi

Okapia johnstoni

Last updated: March 17, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Michal Sloviak/Shutterstock.com

Eats more than 100 different types of plants!


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Okapi Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Giraffidae
Genus
Okapia
Scientific Name
Okapia johnstoni

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Okapi Conservation Status

Okapi Locations

Okapi Locations

Okapi Facts

Prey
Leaves, shoots, fruit
Name Of Young
Calf
Group Behavior
  • Solitary
Fun Fact
Eats more than 100 different types of plants!
Estimated Population Size
10,000-35,000
Biggest Threat
Habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature
Horizontal white stripes on rear and legs
Other Name(s)
Forest zebra
Gestation Period
15 months
Habitat
Dense mountain rainforest
Predators
Leopard, serval, humans
Diet
Herbivore
Average Litter Size
1
Lifestyle
  • Diurnal
Common Name
Okapi
Number Of Species
1
Location
Central Africa
Slogan
Eats more than 100 different types of plants!
Group
Mammal

Okapi Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Red
  • Black
  • White
Skin Type
Fur
Top Speed
37 mph
Lifespan
15-20 years in capitivity
Weight
200-300 kg (440-660 lbs)
Length
1.5-2 m (4.9-6.5 ft)
Age of Sexual Maturity
2-3 years
Age of Weaning
6 months

View all of the Okapi images!



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Due to its long prehensile tongue, the okapi is one of the few animals in the world said to be able to lick its own ear!

The okapi is an elusive herbivore present in only central Africa in a small area of tropical mountain forest. It has a long neck, in common with its close relative the giraffe, and the stripes on its rear and legs that are similar to zebra’s patterns. The okapi is so rarely seen, it was not categorized as a species until the 1900s. It is believed to be common in its limited habitat and is listed as near threatened.

3 Fascinating Facts About the Okapi

  • The okapi’s prehensile tongue helps it reach food, assists with grooming, and is so long that it is one of the few animals in the world that can lick its own ear!
  • This animal has been called a forest zebra by some due to its similar stripes.
  • The okapi was classed as a species in 1900-1901 after an analysis of two pieces of its skin were sent to London to be analyzed.
Weirdest Animals Okapi

The okapi was not classed as a species until 1900-1901.

©Michal Sloviak/Shutterstock.com

Scientific Name

The okapi’s scientific name is Okapia johnstoni. Okapia comes either from the Mbuba word “okapi” or the related Lese Karo name “o’api.” Johnstoni is in honor of Sir Harry Johnston, the British special commissioner in Uganda who was the first to source pieces of the okapi’s skin and a skull from the Ituri Forest.

This mammal’s genus is Okapia and it belongs to the Order Artiodactyla and the Family Giraffidae. The okapi and giraffe are the only members of Giraffidae still in existence.



The okapi is also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, and zebra giraffe (while its striped markings appear similar to a zebra’s, the okapi is not closely related to it).

common zebra or Burchell's zebra

Although the okapi has similar stripes to a zebra, the two species are not closely related.

©Roger de la Harpe/Shutterstock.com

Evolution and History

The okapi has been called a living fossil because while it has lived over many geological periods it still appears like a more primitive animal. The earliest recorded ancestors of the okapi are members of the Giraffidae who first appeared in the Early Miocene Epoch, 23 million to 16 million years ago, in Africa. By the Middle Miocene Epoch, 16 million to 11.6 million years ago, Giraffids migrated to Europe and Asia. A genetic study in 2016 showed that a common ancestor of the okapi and giraffe lived around 11.5 million years ago.

Longest Tail: The Giraffe

The okapi and giraffe are both members of the Giraffidae family, which first appeared in the Early Miocene Epoch.

©PLANET EARTH/Shutterstock.com

Appearance

Many believe that the okapi’s unique appearance makes it one of the strangest animals alive today.

The okapi has a red-brown coat with white, horizontal striped markings on its hindquarters and legs, white ankles with a dark area above each hoof, and thick skin that prevents it from becoming injured easily.

Most notable is the okapi’s long, black tongue, which is prehensile, allowing it to grab leaves from the branches above its head. The okapi’s long neck also helps it to reach leaves in higher areas as well as being used to defend itself and its territory. Its set-back ears assist in the detection and monitoring of predators.

The okapi’s long neck helps it to reach leaves and defend itself and its territory.

©Jiri Hrebicek/Shutterstock.com

Behavior

The okapi is diurnal so is active during the daytime, spending most of its time searching its forest habitat for food. This species is primarily solitary, except during mating, when mothers are caring for calves, and occasionally feeding in a small group of other okapi.

Male okapi typically inhabit a bigger territory than female okapi, and their areas are marked with urine and by rubbing their necks onto trees. A male will battle another, using their necks to fight, over their territory and during mating season for a female.

These animals are thought to communicate with quiet sounds and depend on their hearing abilities when they cannot see through the dense forest of their habitat. You can find out some incredible facts about okapis here.

Weirdest Animal: Okapi

The okapi is generally a solitary animal except during mating, nurturing a calf, or fighting for territory.

©slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com

Habitat

Okapis live in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in dense rainforest in a range of altitudes 500-1,000 m (1,640-3,280 ft) above sea level, though typically most will be at 800 m (2,624 ft) near a slow-moving water source.

Their population is concentrated in the Ituri rainforest, of which about 20% is dedicated to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a World Heritage Site. The thick foliage of the forest helps shield these shy animals from predators. They are restricted to this 63,000 square km (24,324 square miles) forest due to inhospitable regions beyond it and while they are believed to be commonly found in this area, their population is threatened by habitat loss from deforestation.

colombia amazon river

The okapi lives in a dense rainforest habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

©iStock.com/gustavofrazao

Diet

As the okapi is a herbivore its diet is exclusively plant matter. Okapis have a very wide range to choose from — they eat more than 100 varieties of plants, with some of these being poisonous to animals and humans. They use their long tongue to draw leaves, shoots, and twigs from trees and plants overhead.

They will also eat fruits, berries, and fungi. One way to ensure they are consuming salt and vital minerals is to ingest a red clay.

These animals will spend the majority of their day looking for food and usually will stick close to areas they are familiar with to make sure they have an escape route if they encounter any predators.

Giraffe, Eating, Feeding, Tree, Tall - High

Like the giraffe, the okapi uses its prehensile tongue to draw leaves into its mouth.

©iStock.com/Simplyphotos

Predators and Threats

Perhaps it’s because the okapi has a limited range that it has fewer predators than many other species.

Its primary predator is the leopard. The okapi cannot deploy its main defensive tactic of using its sensitive hearing to detect predators moving through the forest undergrowth against the leopard as the cat’s climbing abilities mean it spends time among the trees, allowing it to spy the okapi from above and ambush it.

Another predator is also a member of the feline family — the serval, which is also excellent at climbing trees and has a keen sense of hearing. Humans are a threat to the okapi population through hunting, with indigenous populations valuing its meat and hide, and deforestation.

Leopard drinking water

The leopard is the okapi’s main predator.

©Rudi Hulshof/Shutterstock.com

Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Lifespan

While some facts are known about the elusive okapi’s reproduction and life cycle, others still remain to be discovered. It’s believed that the gestation period of the okapi can be as long as 16 months, with the female giving birth to a calf that is capable of standing up by itself within 30 minutes of being born — this is similar to other herbivores with hoofs and is likely a defensive measure as it would be vulnerable to predators if it could not run to escape a threat.

Mother and calf spend around two months nesting in the protective undergrowth and although the adult female will safeguard and feed her young, it’s thought they do not develop as close a bond as other hoofed mammals do. Typically, a calf is weaned at about 6 months but it could keep suckling from its mother for over a year. The okapi’s stripes come in at a young age and it reaches maturity at around 3 years old.

It’s hard to say what the average lifespan is for the okapi in the wild, however in captivity, they have been known to live between 15 and 20 years, and some have been known to live to around 30 years.

Coolest Animals: Okapi

In captivity, the okapi’s lifespan is around 15-20 years on average.

©seth miles/Shutterstock.com

Conservation and Population

The IUCN classifies the okapi as Near Threatened and estimates there are 10,000-35,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

While these animals are believed to be commonly found in their natural range, their habitat is under serious threat of increasing deforestation and as a result, the okapi has fewer and fewer food sources. Also an issue is that they are often injured or killed by getting caught in the traps that local people are using to snare other animals. The Democratic Republic of Congo has protected the okapi by law since 1933.

The okapi’s rainforest habitat provides it with excellent camouflage amongst the dense foliage.

©Kiki Dohmeier/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Catherine Gin has more than 15 years of experience working as an editor for digital, print and social media. She grew up in Australia with an alphabet of interesting animals, from echidnas and funnel-web spiders to kookaburras and quokkas, as well as beautiful native plants including bottlebrushes and gum trees. Being based in the U.S. for a decade has expanded Catherine's knowledge of flora and fauna, and she and her husband hope to have a hobby farm and vegetable garden in future.

Okapi FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are okapis herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Okapis are herbivores, meaning they eat plants.

What Kingdom do okapis belong to?

Okapis belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do okapis belong to?

Okapis belong to the class Mammalia.

What phylum to okapis belong to?

Okapis belong to the phylum Chordata.

What family do okapis belong to?

Okapis belong to the family Giraffidae.

What order do okapis belong to?

Okapis belong to the order Artiodactyla.

What type of covering do okapis have?

Okapis are covered in fur.

What genus do okapis belong to?

Okapis belong to the genus Okapia.

Where do okapis live?

Okapis live in central Africa.

In what type of habitat do okapis live?

Okapis live in dense mountain rainforests.

What are some predators of okapis?

Predators of okapis include leopards, servals, and humans.

How many babies do okapis have?

The average number of babies an okapi has is 1.

What is an interesting fact about okapis?

An okapi eats more than 100 different types of plants!

What is the scientific name for the Okapi?

The scientific name for the Okapi is Okapia johnstoni.

What is the lifespan of an okapi?

In captivity, the okapi has been known to live between 15 and 20 years. Its lifespan in the wild is uncertain due to lack of data.

How many species of okapi are there?

There is one species of okapi.

What is the biggest threat to the okapi?

The biggest threat to the okapi is habitat loss.

What is another name for the okapi?

The okapi is also called the forest zebra.

How many okapis are left in the world?

There are 22,000 okapis left in the world.

How fast is an okapi?

An okapi can travel at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour.

What are the key differences between okapis and zebras?

The key differences between okapis and zebras are size, appearance, habitat, predators, diet, and behavior.

What are the key differences between okapis and giraffes?

The key differences between okapis and giraffes are size, appearance, habitat, predators, diet, and behavior.

How to say Okapi in ...
Bulgarian
Окапи
Catalan
Ocapi
Czech
Okapi
Danish
Okapi
German
Okapi
English
Okapi
Esperanto
Okapio
Spanish
Okapia johnstoni
Finnish
Okapi
French
Okapi
Hebrew
אוקפי
Croatian
Okapi
Hungarian
Okapi
Indonesian
Okapi
Italian
Okapia johnstoni
Japanese
オカピ
Malay
Okapi
Dutch
Okapi
English
Okapi
Polish
Okapi
Portuguese
Ocapi
Slovenian
Okapi
Swedish
Okapi
Turkish
Okapi
Chinese
㺢㹢狓

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals
  7. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals
  8. Okapi Information, Available here: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Okapia_johnstoni.html
  9. Okapi Conservation, Available here: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/15188/0
  10. About the Okapi, Available here: http://www.africanwildlifevacations.com/about-the-okapi.html

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