Giraffidae-berutti

= Okapis  = = =
 * Okapis are Giraffid(from the Giraffidae family) mammals from the Ituri Rainforest, central Africa.
 * Okapis may have stripes, but they are not related to the zebra. They are related to the giraffe.
 * Okapis have been firs discovered in 1901 by the explorer Harry Jhonston. Because of that, it's scentific name is "//Okapia jonstoni//"

=__Characteristics__=
 * Okapis have dark red backs
 * white stripes on it's legs
 * related to the giraffe
 * males have oscicones(small skin covered horns) and larger ears
 * some adaptations are: brownish colors for camouflage, sharp hearing, long tongue to reach for high places for food, and special sweat glands to mark their territory.

=__Calves__=

=__Family- Giraffidae__=
 * newborns can stand in 30 minutes from when it was born.
 * they will nurse in the first hour after birth
 * they will not be full size untill 3 years of age
 * gestation lasts 14-15 months
 * okapis may look like they are related to the zebra, but they are not.
 * they are only related to the giraffe because they are the only species left in the family giraffidae.
 * the okapi has a similar body to the giraffe, but has a shorter neck, that is why they are giraffid animals.
 * characteristics are vertebrate, mammal, herbivore, four legs, males have oscicones, and have a long bule tongue[[image:180px-Okapi_at_Chester_Zoo.jpg caption="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/Okapi_at_Chester_Zoo.jpg"]][[image:220px-Okapitongue.jpg caption="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Okapitongue.jpg"]]

=__Other info__= =__food__=
 * okapis are near endangered animals because of the chopping-down of it's habitat.
 * okapis have individual ranges that can be over one square mile. there is one okapi per range.
 * the only time another okapi is aloud into another's range is when a female looks for food. males will let them in.
 * okapis are always seperated except when they are breeding, or if a mother is with her calves.
 * okapis travel about half of a mile per day just for food.
 * okapis are herbivores (they eat plants)
 * okapis eat leaves, buds, fruit, and other plants
 * most of the food they eat is toxic to humans.
 * okapis have been seen eating charcoal and clay for salt and minerals

=__movement__= =__classfication__=
 * okapis move by trotting
 * okapis walk arous all day to protect their range.
 * okapis can travel up to 37 mph or 60 kph
 * Kingdom: || Animalia ||
 * Phylum: || Chordata ||
 * Class: || Mammalia ||
 * Order: || Artiodactyla ||
 * Family: || Giraffidae ||
 * Genus: || //**Okapia**// ||
 * Species: || //**Okapia johnstoni**// ||