amnhnyc:

Say “hello” to the okapi (Okapia johnstoni). Though its stripes resemble a zebra’s, this herbivore is actually most closely related to the giraffe! Never seen one? Worry not: This shy ungulate is hard to spot because the stripes on its coat help camouflage it in its densely-vegetated, sun-dappled habitat. Found in Central Africa—typically in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo—the okapi feeds on leaves and tender shoots, using its long, flexible tongue to strip vegetation. In fact, an okapi’s tongue can reach lengths of up to 11.8 inches (30 cm)… meaning it can lick its own eyeballs.

Photo: derekkeats, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
#wildlife #animals #amazingnature #nature #science
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