Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) Fact Sheet: Summary

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla* (or Cetartiodactyla) (even-toed hoofed animals: includes pigs, sheep goats, cattle, deer)

Family: Giraffidae (giraffes and the okapi)

Genus: Okapi

Species: Okapi johnstoni - okapi

Body Weight
Males: 180-260 kg (397-573 lb)
Females: 240-356 kg (529 - 785 lb)

Shoulder Height
Males: 1.40-1.55 m (4.6-5.1 ft)
Females: 1.42-1.59 m (4.7-5.2 ft)

Body Length
2.5 m (8 ft) average for both sexes

Tail Length
30-42 cm (12-17 in)

Pelage
Reddish-brown to black; velvety on body; more gray and white on face. Horizontal white or creamy stripes on legs; anklets and stockings present.

Range
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

Habitat
Closed, high canopy forests

IUCN Status
Endangered (2015 assessment)

CITES Status
Not listed

Other Designations
Fully protected species under Congolese law

Population in Wild
Rapid rate of population since the 1980s.
Difficult to assess population sizes due to political unrest and presence of illegal armed groups in/around protected areas.

Locomotion
Pacing gait; legs on one side move forward together.
Also gallop.

Activity Cycle
Active during the day and at night.
Much of the day spent feeding and resting.

Social Groups
Solitary much of the time.
Exceptions: during breeding and mothers with calves.

Diet
Selectly feed on plants growing in sun. Consume leaves, fruits, seeds, ferns; also fungi.

Predators
Adults: humans, leopards
Young: humans, serval and golden cats

Sexual Maturity
Females: 1-2 years
Males: from 2 years

Gestation
About 440 days (14 months)

Litter Size
1

Birth Weight
14-30 kg (30-66 lb)

Age at Weaning
Around 6 months old, but young suckle up to a year

Typical Life Expectancy
Managed care: median life expectancy of about 17 years

Feature Facts

• Shy animals
• Closest living relatives of the okapi are giraffes
• Long, dark blue, prehensile tongue; use it to pull leaves off branches
• Courtship of females by males is unobstrusive and cautious
• Long gestation: 14 months
• While feedng, mothers leave infants alone for extended periods
• Experiencing drastic declines due to habitat loss and poaching
• Seventy Two Okapi have been born at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park since 1962