Animal ID Challenge Answer - Okapi
Little Quizzes That Test Your Animal Identification Skills
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The animal in photo (A) is an okapi (Okapia johnstoni). The body of an okapi resembles that of a horse, while the shape of its head is similar in some respects to that of a giraffe. It has distinct stripes on its rump and hindquarters, reminiscent of the stripes of a zebra. Okapis have large ears and chocolate-brown fur on their body and necks. Their feet and ankles are white. Okapis inhabit a small region of tropical forests of northeastern Zaire. They have a preference for the forests that lie at altitudes between 500 and 1,000 m.
Photo (B) shows a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals. They have much longer necks than okapis. Their skin is a patchwork of dark chestnut spots separated by thin cream colored lines. Another characteristic that distinguishes giraffes from okapis is that giraffes grow horns, also called ossicones—okapis do not have horns.
