Okapi, also known as the Okapi deer, is a species of even-clovened animal in the genus Okapi in the giraffe family. It is related to the giraffe and is the only close relative of the giraffe that has not yet become extinct. It is now found only in tropical rainforests and alpine forests in eastern Dr. Congo (DRC) in Africa, retaining many of its original features.
The body length is 1.9-2.5 meters, the shoulder height is 1.5-1.65 meters, the weight is 180-317 kg, and the female is slightly larger. The fur is short, slightly greasy to the touch, and has a delicate fragrance, chocolate color with a red and crimson velvet sheen. The forehead, neck and body are brown, and the cheeks, throat and chest are camel or gray. The upper parts of the hips and legs have horizontal black and white stripes, similar to those of zebras. The calves are white or pale brown, and the face is dark and white.
Males have two short, antler-bearing horns, while females have no horns. The tongue is blue, about 30 cm long, and flexible, and can be used to roll up the young leaves of trees, and can also be used to clean their eyes and ears. The ears are large, trumpet-shaped, and can be moved backwards, mainly relying on the ears to find predators.
Okapi only needs to sleep for 5 minutes a day, they are very timid and always vigilant. The glands on each foot are used to secrete an asphalt-like substance to mark where they walk. It is a diurnal animal that lives alone and only meets together during mating. Feeds on green leaves, grasses, ferns, fruits and fungi.