African Mammal - Okapi | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

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Mammalogy Contacts

Jim Dines
Collections Manager
(213) 763-3400
jdines@nhm.org

David Janiger
Curatorial Assistant
(213) 763-3369
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Okapia johnstoni (Sclater, 1901)

Okapi diorama in the African mammal hall

Scene:

Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sponsor:

The San Diego Zoological Society

Background artist:

Clark Provins

Also present:

Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis),
African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus),
Goliath beetle (Goliathus orientalis)

Okapis are the only living relatives of the giraffes. Despite their large size, they weren’t discovered until 1901. They have foot-long blue tongues that they use to strip leaves and buds from trees and also to clean their eyelids and ears!

Okapis are mostly nocturnal and solitary, coming together only to breed.

Biological Information

Range:

Congo River Basin

Habitat:

Low dense undergrowth in equatorial rain forest

Status:

Protected since 1933 but vulnerable

Diet:

Shade-loving plants, also fruits, ferns and fungi

Further information about this species may be found on the Animal Diversity Web page for okapi.

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