![]() ![]() ![]() Females exhibit swelling of their udders and vulvae about two months before birth. Once copulation has finished, the gestation period will last anywhere from 414 to 493 days, with an average of 440 days. The estrus periods of okapis are typically irregular but tend to occur every fifteen days throughout the year with an eight-day follicular phase. The reproductive cycle of okapis has only been viewed in captivity, but experts believe their behavior is similar in their natural habitat. ( Bodmer and Rabb, 1992 Stanton, et al., 2015) This is because the majority of okapis studied in a sample area of the Okapi Faunal Reserve in the DR Congo showed high levels of genetic relations. Through genetic testing, it has been determined that okapis are a polygamous and promiscuous species. Once copulation is finished, pairs separate and females return to densely forested areas for the gestation period. Before copulation, a mating male moves behind his mate, licks her back, and then prepares to mount her.Ī non-receptive female may move forward and kick her potential mate, which results in that male striking the female with his horns. If a female accepts the gestures of a male, she lowers her head and moves her tail aside. Males then stretch their necks and kick their legs, among other body postures. Flehmen is a method of smelling the environment using the Jacobson's organ, which is part of the olfactory system. Both males and females then urinate and smell the markings of their partners using flehmen. Courting pairs stand parallel to one another with their heads facing opposite directions to sniff and lick the genitals of their partner. ![]() Once a male and female meet, the male gets close to the female and sniffs her genital area. For a courting pair to come in contact, females in estrus will walk for hours until they encounter a male. Both males and females rub their necks to leave dermal exudate. Males mark small plants with urine, while females defecate in the same places to mark their territories. Both males and females have their own type of marking rituals before engaging in mating. Due to their elusive nature, mating rituals have only been observed in captive environments. Okapis are solitary animals, but come together to mate. ( Bodmer and Rabb, 1992 Mallon, et al., 2015 Toon and Stephen, 2003) Females lack ossicones, having hair whorls in their place. Males have short, skin-covered horns, also known as ossicones). Okapis have long, black tongues, similar to giraffes. Their brown coats are starkly contrasted to their legs and face their legs have white stockings with brown stripes, similar to those of a zebra. The coats of okapis are extremely oily, which helps them wick water in their tropical rainforest environments. Their bodies are a dark reddish-brown with a velvety texture. Range elevation 450 to 1500 m 1476.38 to 4921.26 ftīefore discovering that okapis were the closest relative to giraffes ( Giraffa camelopardalis), they were believed to be a part of the genus Equus due to their resemblance to horses and zebras.( Bodmer and Rabb, 1992 Mallon, et al., 2015 Stanton, et al., 2014 Toon and Stephen, 2003) There are some swamps in the region, but okapis avoid these areas due to the wet substrate. The average temperature is 31☌, showing that okapis are able to survive in humid, wet environments. The Ituri River runs through the rainforest and is fed by over 75 inches of annual rainfall. These patches of sunlight are suited for the foraging done by okapis. The Ituri forest of Zaire, in which okapis predominantly reside, contain trees that allow little sunlight through the canopy. They mainly reside in lush, high canopy rainforests where they eat understory foliage. Okapis are terrestrial animals whose territorial range can stretch anywhere from 450 to 1,500 m. This being said, okapis are typically found at altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 3,200 feet above sea level. They are typically reclusive, so both locals and researchers are unaware of how far their range truly extends. The range of okapis is constantly decreasing as they become increasingly endangered. There has been some evidence showing that their range has extended into western Uganda, as they are pushed towards the east by deforestation and road construction. Their territory extends west into the Rubi, Tele, and Ebola river basins. Okapis range from the Maiko Forest to the Ituri Forest. ![]() They are mainly limited to the central, northern, and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Okapis ( Okapia johnstoni) are a native species found within the Ethiopian Range in sub-Saharan Africa. ![]()
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