Animal okapi or dwarf forest giraffe: description, photo, video about the life of okapi. The unusual animal okapi looks like both a giraffe and a zebra Animals of Africa okapi

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Okapi, or Johnston's okapi ( Okapia johnstoni) - a species of artiodactyls, the only representative of the okapi genus. They live only in tropical forests Ituri, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Although okapi wear striped socks on their legs and look like horses, they are most closely related to giraffes.

Perhaps the most unusual fact The thing about okapi is that it was not known to science until 1901. Its taxonomic name, Okapia johnstoni, comes from its native Central -African name, and the name of the man who first “discovered” it, Sir Harry Johnston, a British explorer, naturalist and colonial administrator.

Although okapi resemble a horse in appearance, they have relatively long neck, although not as much as its relative the giraffe. Most of the body is painted a velvety dark chestnut color. The animal's cheeks, throat and chest are lighter shades and can be either light brown or gray. Okapi's fur is slightly oily to the touch and has a delicate aroma. The tops of the hind and forelimbs have distinct light stripes, the lower parts of the limbs are white, with the exception of longitudinal dark stripes on the front of the front legs and a horizontal black stripe above the hooves on each leg.

The blue sticky tongue, about 35 cm long, is often used not only to wash the eyelids, but also to read the ears, both inside and out. Male okapi have short, skin-covered small horns. Big ears help to detect a predator, for example, a leopard, in time. These relatives of the giraffe weigh from 200 to 350 kg, height at the withers is from 1.5 to 2.0 m.

Because okapi are very shy and secretive animals, living in inaccessible places and avoiding human encounters, most of the information about the biology of Johnston's okapi was obtained from animals kept in captivity. They are largely solitary and, although previously thought to be nocturnal animals, okapis are now known to be active during the day.

They feed mainly on leaves, grasses, fruits and mushrooms, some of which are known to be poisonous. It has been suggested that this is why okapi also eat charcoal from burnt trees, which is an excellent antidote after consuming toxins. Along with consuming a huge variety of plant material, okapi also eat clay, which provides their body with the necessary salts and minerals in its plant-based diet.

Both males and females have their own feeding areas, but they are not territorial animals, their domains overlap, and okapi can sometimes graze together in small groups for short period time. Okapi are also known to communicate with each other using quiet "puffing" sounds and rely on hearing in the surrounding forest where they are unable to see very far.

Okapi have several methods by which they mark their territory: it can be resin, a similar substance secreted from the glands on the legs, and marking with urine; both males and females rub their necks against trees for the same purposes. Males defend their territories, but allow females to pass through them.

The young are weaned at six months, although they may continue to take milk for some time thereafter. Young males develop horns at about one year of age, and reach their adult size at three years of age. They are believed to reach sexual maturity after two years. Okapi in captivity have lived up to 33 years.

Although okapi are not classified as endangered, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. The population is estimated at 10,000-20,000 individuals.

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When hearing the phrase “dwarf giraffes,” the imagination automatically helpfully provides a picture of an animal familiar from childhood, only in a smaller copy. However, the reality is not quite like that. Outwardly, this amazing animal does not at all resemble its long-necked relative. What is the real name of the dwarf giraffe? Where does he live? Under what circumstances was this amazing creature discovered?

Homeland of the okapi

IN natural environment Okapi live in only one place on our planet - in the northeastern territory of the Democratic Republic. This is a swampy area located between three large lakes, overgrown with impenetrable tropical forest.

It is in these wilds that dwarf giraffes hide. The fact that they became known to science only in 1901 testifies to how suitable they turned out to be for a quiet life for animals. And this news created a real sensation in specialist circles.

Discovery of a new mammal

For the first time, G. M. Stanley, an explorer of Africa, casually mentioned the unknown animal in his book. This fact seriously interested Harry Johnston, who was the governor of Uganda at that time. Information about okapi (as the local pygmy aborigines called this animal) could only be collected bit by bit. And in the literal sense of the word.

First, Johnston obtained a couple of okapi skin scraps. Then he managed to see two skulls and a whole skin. Upon receiving a specimen of an okapi skull, Johnston immediately realized that the animal was a giraffe. He sent all the data to London. There new look received official name- okapi Johnston.

Strange combination

Okapi dwarf giraffes look quite cute, but it is very difficult to dismiss the idea that they are some incredible combination of different animals. From the croup to the middle of the hind legs they are colored like a zebra. The same stripes are on the upper part of the front legs. Below, all four limbs are completely white, but at the base of the hooves there is a wide

The body shape most closely resembles an antelope, but the okapi is the size of a horse. and long, and the horns are almost invisible. But dwarf giraffes can compete with their tongues even with an anteater. It is so long that the animal can easily clean its eyes and ears with it, both inside and out.

Okapi's tongue blue, like chow-chow dogs or giraffes. With this very sticky and mobile organ, they deftly pick off tender foliage from trees.

Habits

Until today, we know little about the living habits of animals in their natural environment. Basically, all observations are carried out on individuals in captivity.

Okapi feed on leaves and young shoots of trees. And minerals and necessary salts are extracted directly from clay, which is eaten along with plant foods.

Until recently, it was even believed that okapi lead night image life. However, this is not true. Just these timid creatures They are very careful, and it is almost impossible to stumble upon them during the day. Okapi have extremely sensitive hearing. Therefore, it is not easy for predators, and for humans too, to take them by surprise.

The pygmy giraffe, whose name is so unusual to our ears, can live for more than three decades in captivity.

Pregnancy in females lasts more than a year - approximately 15 months. For childbirth, okapi choose remote, hard-to-reach corners. Babies are fed milk for six months.

Okapi prefer a solitary lifestyle. They have a marked territory, but it often happens that the grazing areas of several individuals may overlap. They are also very difficult to tolerate changes in habitat, so they are rarely seen in zoos.

The discovery of okapi in the 20th century caused a huge sensation. Traveler Stanley G. first spoke about these animals. In 1890, he published a report on animals that lived in the forests of the Congo. This information was confirmed 9 years later, when Johnston found confirmation of this information. After this, in 1900, zoologists published a description of a new species of animal, which was initially called “Johnson’s horse.”

Okapi are a species of artiodactyls. Outwardly, these animals are a little similar to zebras, but family ties they have closer to the giraffes. The legs are long and the neck is elongated, but shorter than that of a giraffe. But the blue tongue, which can reach 35 centimeters, is the same as that of giraffes. Males have horns. The dark-colored coat has a brownish-reddish tint. There are horizontal stripes on the legs. At the same time, the fur on the animal’s legs is light, and the stripes are brown and black. It is these stripes that make okapi look like a zebra.

In general, the animal’s body length is approximately two to two and a half meters excluding the tail, the animal’s height reaches one and a half meters. The length of the tail can reach half a meter. With such sizes, the weight of individuals can reach 350 kilograms.

Lifestyle: nutrition and reproduction

Okapi animals have a clearly defined territory. The boundaries of the marked territory are guarded by animals. As a rule, males live separately from females with cubs. The main activity of animals occurs during the daytime.

Representatives of this genus feed, like giraffes:

tree leaves,
fruits.
mushrooms.

Okapi are quite picky when choosing food, but despite this animal can eat poisonous plants and charred trees, burned by lightning strikes. And to compensate for the lack of minerals in the body, the animal feeds on reddish clay near water bodies.

In the spring, you can observe how males engage in battles for females, clashing necks. The mating period is a rare period of time when female and male okapis can be seen together. It happens that a couple is accompanied by a one-year-old cub, to which the male is not yet hostile.

Okapi female pregnancy lasts more than a year– approximately 15 months. Childbirth occurs during the rainy season; in Congo, this period begins in August and lasts until October. Childbirth occurs in the most remote places. The first few days when a baby is born lies hidden among the vegetation. Little okapi can moo and whistle softly, and also, like adults, make sounds similar to coughing. The mother finds the cub in the thicket by its voice. At the time of birth, the weight of the cub can reach 30 kilograms.

Feeding babies lasts about six months. It is still not known exactly when the cub becomes independent. After a year, males begin to erupt in horns. From two years of age, animals become sexually mature, and by three years of age, okapi become adults. The lifespan of animals in natural conditions has not been reliably established.

Habitat

In nature, okapi are found only in the tropical forests of northeastern Congo. For example, animals can be found:

in the Salonga Nature Reserve;
in the Virunga Nature Reserve;
in the Maiko Nature Reserve.

Okapi live at altitudes from five hundred to one thousand meters. They choose places where there are a lot of bushes and thickets, because in case of danger they hide among them. Rare, but also found on open plains, closer to water.

Males and females have their own feeding areas. These areas may overlap each other. Males also calmly allow females to pass through their territory.

On at the moment There is no exact data on the number of okapi living in the Congo. Destruction of forests negatively affects the number of animals. At the moment okapi are listed in the Red Book as rare animals.

Life in captivity

For a long time zoos could not create conditions for okapi to live. The first time an okapi lived in captivity at the Antwerp Zoo for 50 days happened only in 1919. But from 1928 to 1943, a female okapi lived in this zoo. She died of starvation during World War II. They also did not immediately learn how to reproduce okapi in captivity. The first offspring born in captivity died. Only in 1956 were they able to hatch cubs in Paris.

Okapi is a very fastidious animal. For example, representatives of this genus cannot tolerate sudden changes in temperature and air humidity. They are also very sensitive to the composition of food.

True, in lately Some success has been achieved in keeping and breeding okapi in captivity. It was noted that young individuals adapt to the conditions of the enclosure faster. At first, they try not to disturb the animal. The composition of the food consists only of familiar food. If the animal senses danger, it may die from stress, since the heart cannot withstand the heavy load.

When the animal calms down and gets used to people a little, it is transported to the zoo. In this case, males and females must be kept separately in the enclosure, and the lighting must be monitored. There should not be more than one brightly lit area in the enclosure. If a female gives birth in captivity, then it is necessary to isolate her and the cub. For them they must create a dark corner, which would imitate a forest thicket.

Once accustomed, okapi become friendly to people. They can even take food directly from your hands.

International scientific name

Okapia johnstoni
P. L. Sclater,

Area Security status

Taxonomy
on Wikispecies

Images
on Wikimedia Commons

ITIS
NCBI
EOL

Peculiarities

Okapi has velvety, chocolate-colored fur that shimmers with reddish hues. The limbs are white or light brown, the muzzle is black and white. The neck and legs are quite long, although not to the same extent as those of the related steppe giraffe. Males have two short horns, females have no horns. The weight of okapi is about 250 kg. Body length is about 2.1 m, tail - 30-40 cm. Height at withers is 150-170 cm. Females are on average slightly taller than males. The okapi's tongue is so long that the animal washes its eyes with it.

Spreading

The only state in whose territory okapi are found is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Okapi inhabit dense tropical forests in the north and east of the country, for example in the Salonga, Maiko and Virunga reserves.

The current number of okapi in wildlife unknown. Since okapi are very fearful and secretive animals and also live in a country torn apart by civil war, little is known about their life in freedom. Deforestation, which takes away their living space, will most likely lead to a decline in population. Cautious estimates of the number of okapi call figures from 10 thousand to 20 thousand individuals living in freedom. There are 160 of them in zoos around the world.

Lifestyle

Like related giraffes, okapi feed primarily on tree leaves: with their long and flexible tongue, the animals grab a young shoot of a bush and then tear off the foliage from it with a sliding movement. In addition, okapi eat grasses, ferns, mushrooms and fruits. As studies by zoologist De Medina have shown, okapi is quite picky when choosing food: of the 13 plant families that form the lower layer of the tropical forest, it regularly uses only 30 species. Charcoal and brackish clay containing saltpeter from the banks of forest streams were also found in okapi droppings. Apparently, this is how the animal compensates for the lack of mineral feed. Okapi feed during daylight hours. .

Okapi are active during the day. Adult females have clearly defined areas, while the areas of males overlap and are not clearly defined. Okapi are solitary animals. Occasionally they can be found in small groups, but for what reasons they form them is still unknown.

The gestation period of an okapi is 450 days. The birth of offspring depends on the seasons: births occur in August-October, during the rainy season. To give birth, the female retires to the most remote places, and the newborn calf lies hidden in the thicket for several days. His mother finds him by his voice. The voice of adult okapi resembles a quiet cough. The cub also makes the same sounds, but it can also moo quietly like a calf or occasionally whistle quietly. The mother is very attached to the baby: there are cases when the female tried to drive even people away from the baby. Of the okapi's senses, hearing and smell are the most developed. . In captivity, okapi can live up to 30 years.

History of the discovery of okapi

The story of the discovery of okapi is one of the most notorious zoological sensations of the 20th century. The first information about the unknown animal was received in 1890 by the famous traveler Henry Stanley, who managed to reach the virgin forests of the Congo Basin. In his report, Stanley said that the pygmies who saw his horses were not surprised (contrary to expectations) and explained that similar animals were found in their forests. A few years later, the then governor of Uganda, Englishman Johnston, decided to check Stanley’s words: information about unknown “forest horses” seemed ridiculous. However, during the 1899 expedition, Johnston managed to find confirmation of Stanley’s words: first the pygmies, and then the white missionary Lloyd, described to Johnston appearance“forest horse” and reported its local name - okapi. And then Johnston was even more lucky: at Fort Beni, the Belgians gave him two pieces of okapi skin. They were sent to London to the Royal Zoological Society. Their examination showed that the skin did not belong to any of the known species zebras, and in December 1900, zoologist Sclater published a description of a new species of animal, giving it the name "Johnston's horse". Only in June 1901, when a complete skin and two skulls were sent to London, it turned out that they did not belong to a horse, but were close to the bones of long-extinct animals. We were talking, therefore, about a completely new genus. This is how it was legalized modern name Okapi is a name that has been used for thousands of years by the pygmies of the Ituri forests. However, the okapi remained almost inaccessible.

Zoo requests were also unsuccessful for a long time. It was only in 1919 that the Antwerp Zoo received its first young okapi, which lived in Europe for only 50 days. Several more attempts ended in failure. However, in 1928, a female okapi named Tele arrived at the Antwerp Zoo. She lived until 1943 and died of starvation during the Second World War. And in 1954, in the same Antwerp Zoo, the first okapi cub was born, which soon died. The first one is completely successful breeding okapi was achieved in 1956 in Paris. Currently, a special station for capturing live okapi operates in Epulu (Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa). .

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Categories:

Species out of danger
Animals in alphabetical order
Mammals of Africa
Animals described in 1901
Giraffidae
Endemics of Africa
Living fossils
Monotypic genera of mammals
Animal taxa named after humans

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Synonyms:

See what "Okapi" is in other dictionaries:

- (Negro Okaria). Recently opened to the center. Africa large mammal an animal from the order of artiodactyls, close to the giraffe, only hornless. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. okapi (African) rare... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

- (Okapia johnstoni), mammal of the family. Giraffidae Dl. body approx. 2 m, weight approx. 250 kg. The male has two small horns with annually replaced horny sheaths at the ends. The ears are large. The neck is shorter than that of a giraffe. The tongue is very long. Brownish color... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

okapi- Okapi. okapi (Okapia johnstoni), a cloven-hoofed animal of the giraffe family. Endemic to Zaire. Height at withers 150 x 165. Inhabits tropical rain forests, where it feeds on shoots and leaves of euphorbias, as well as fruits various plants. Leads... ... Encyclopedic reference"Africa"

Noun, number of synonyms: 2 animal (277) giraffe (8) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Dictionary of synonyms

- (Okapia johnstoni) artiodactyl mammal of the giraffe family; the only species of the genus. O. smaller giraffes; body length is about 2 m, height at the withers is up to 1.2 m, weighs about 250 kg; the neck and legs are not so long. The withers are higher than the sacrum. The muzzle is elongated,... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Forest giraffe OKAPI November 13th, 2013

OKAPI (Okapia johnstoni)- artiodactyl animal of the giraffe family. Endemic to Zaire. Inhabits tropical rain forests, where it feeds on shoots and leaves of euphorbias, as well as the fruits of various plants.

This is a fairly large animal: body length is about 2 m, shoulder height is 1.5-1.72 m, weight is about 250 kg. Unlike the giraffe, the okapi has a moderately long neck. Long ears, large expressive eyes and a tail ending in a tassel complement the appearance of this still mysterious animal in many ways. The coloring is very distinctive: the body is reddish-brown, the legs are white with dark transverse stripes on the thighs and shoulders. On the head of males there is a pair of small, skin-covered horns with horny “tips”, which are replaced annually. The tongue is long and thin, bluish in color.

We take a giraffe, add a zebra to it and we get OKAPI.

The history of the discovery of okapi is one of the most notorious zoological sensations of the 20th century. The first information about the unknown animal was received in 1890 by the famous traveler G. Stanley, who managed to reach the virgin forests of the Congo Basin. In his report, Stanley said that the pygmies who saw his horses were not surprised (contrary to expectations!) and explained that similar animals were found in their forests. A few years later, the then governor of Uganda, Englishman Johnston, decided to check Stanley’s words: information about unknown “forest horses” seemed ridiculous. However, during the expedition of 1899, Johnston managed to find confirmation of Stanley’s words: first the pygmies, and then the white missionary Lloyd, described to Johnston the appearance of the “forest horse” and told him its local name - okapi.

And then Johnston was even more lucky: at Fort Beni, the Belgians gave him two pieces of okapi skin! They were sent to London to the Royal Zoological Society. Examination of them showed that the skin did not belong to any of the known species of zebra, and in December 1900, zoologist Sclater published a description of a new species of animal, giving it the name “Johnston’s horse.”

Only in June 1901, when a complete skin and two skulls were sent to London, did it become clear that they did not belong to a horse, but were close to the bones of long-extinct animals. We were talking, therefore, about a completely new genus. This was how the modern name okapi was legitimized - a name that had been in use for thousands of years among the pygmies from the Ituri forests. However, the okapi remained almost inaccessible. Zoo requests were also unsuccessful for a long time.

It was only in 1919 that the Antwerp Zoo received its first young okapi, which lived in Europe for only 50 days. Several more attempts ended in failure. However, in 1928, a female okapi named Tele arrived at the Antwerp Zoo. She lived until 1943 and died of hunger during the Second World War. And in 1954, the first okapi cub was born in the same Antwerp Zoo, which, unfortunately, soon died. The first completely successful okapi breeding was achieved in 1956 in Paris.

Currently, a special station for capturing live okapi operates in Epulu (Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa). According to some reports, okapi are kept in 18 zoos around the world and reproduce successfully.

We still know little about the life of okapi in the wild. Few Europeans have ever seen this animal in the wild. The distribution of okapi is limited to a relatively small area in the Congo River basin, occupied by dense and inaccessible tropical forests. However, even within this forest area, okapi are found only in somewhat brightened places near rivers and clearings, where green vegetation from the upper layer descends to the ground.

Okapi cannot live under a continuous forest canopy - they simply have nothing to eat. Okapi's food consists mainly of leaves: with their long and flexible tongue, the animals grab a young shoot of a bush and then tear off the foliage from it with a sliding movement. Only occasionally do they graze on grassy lawns. As studies by zoologist De Medina have shown, okapi is quite picky when choosing food: of the 13 plant families that form the lower layer of the tropical forest, it regularly uses only 30 species. Charcoal and brackish clay containing saltpeter from the banks of forest streams were also found in okapi droppings. Apparently, this is how the animal compensates for the lack of mineral feed. Okapi feed during daylight hours.

Okapi are solitary animals. Only during mating does the female join the male for several days. Sometimes such a couple is accompanied by last year's cub, towards which the adult male does not experience hostile feelings. Pregnancy lasts about 440 days, birth occurs in August - October, during the rainy season. To give birth, the female retires to the most remote places, and the newborn calf lies hidden in the thicket for several days. His mother finds him by his voice. The voice of adult okapi resembles a quiet cough - due to the lack of vocal cords. The cub also makes the same sounds, but it can also moo quietly like a calf or occasionally whistle quietly. The mother is very attached to the baby: there are cases when the female tried to drive even people away from the baby. Of the okapi's senses, hearing and smell are the most developed.

Okapi live in the tropical forests of Africa in the Congo Basin (Zaire). These are small, very timid animals, similar in color to a zebra, from the giraffe family. Okapi usually graze alone, silently making their way through the forest thickets. Okapi are so sensitive that even pygmies cannot sneak up on them. They lure these animals into pit traps.

With its forty-centimeter long tongue, the okapi can do amazing things, such as lick behind its black, red-edged ears. It has pockets on both sides of its mouth in which it can store food.

Okapi are very neat animals. They love to take care of their skin for a long time.

It is not yet possible to fully study the life and habits of okapi. Due to unsettled political power in Congo with permanent civil wars, and also because of the timidity and secretiveness of animals, little is known about their life in freedom. Deforestation undoubtedly affects population numbers. According to the most rough estimates, there are only 10-20 thousand okapi individuals. There are 45 of them in zoos around the world.

Both males and females have their own feeding areas, but they are not territorial animals, their domains overlap, and okapi can sometimes graze together in small groups for short periods of time. Okapi are also known to communicate with each other using quiet "puffing" sounds and rely on hearing in the surrounding forest where they are unable to see very far.