Illustration of okapi
: an African ungulate mammal (Okapia johnstoni) that is closely related to the giraffe but has a relatively short neck, a coat typically of solid reddish chestnut on the trunk, yellowish white on the cheeks, and purplish-black and cream rings on the upper parts of the legs
Examples of okapi in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The okapi’s scientific name, okapia johnstoni, is named after Johnston, though indigenous people had already known of the okapi’s existence long before.
—
Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
The calf is from a species called okapi, the only living relative of the giraffe, the zoo said in a news release.
—Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
The habitat will include a pair of okapi, a striped mammal that looks like a zebra and is the only living relative of the giraffe.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2023
Along with supporting conservation breeding programs by raising okapi, the Chester Zoo also supports wild okapi.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 24 Feb. 2022
The researchers say that giraffes and okapi split around 11.5 million year ago, after which giraffes underwent a tremendous growth spurt.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2016
The okapi and the giraffe diverged from a common ancestor only 11-to-12 million years ago.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2016
Male okapi, though, were less closely related to each other than females.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2015
Some of those ancestors wandered toward the rain forest and present-day Congo and eventually gave rise to the okapi.
—Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2023
Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
The calf is from a species called okapi, the only living relative of the giraffe, the zoo said in a news release.
—Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
The habitat will include a pair of okapi, a striped mammal that looks like a zebra and is the only living relative of the giraffe.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2023
Along with supporting conservation breeding programs by raising okapi, the Chester Zoo also supports wild okapi.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 24 Feb. 2022
The researchers say that giraffes and okapi split around 11.5 million year ago, after which giraffes underwent a tremendous growth spurt.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2016
The okapi and the giraffe diverged from a common ancestor only 11-to-12 million years ago.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2016
Male okapi, though, were less closely related to each other than females.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2015
Some of those ancestors wandered toward the rain forest and present-day Congo and eventually gave rise to the okapi.
—Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2023
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“Okapi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/okapi. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
okapi
noun
oka·pi
ō-ˈkäp-ē 
: an African mammal closely related to the giraffe but lacking the long neck
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