Classification
Domain – Eukarya
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class – Mammalia
Order - Cetartiodactyla
Family – Giraffidae
Genus – Okapia
Species – Okapia johnstoni
The okapi are multicellular and are
classified in the domain Eukarya. It belongs to the kingdom
Animalia because it is a heterotroph. Okapi belong to the phylum
chordate. All chordates have a notochord that is present in all
embryos, a dorsal nerve chord, a post-anal tail, and a pharynx.
Okapi have mammillary glands and hair, which puts them in the
class Mammalia. Because they are in the class mammalia,
they are distatly related to
chimpanzees. Since they are even toed
ungulates, the okapi belong to order Cetartiodactyla. The okapi
belongs to the family Giraffidae, which only consists of two
members: the okapi and the giraffe. These animals are highly
adapted for browsing for food at a higher level than others. The
okapi belong to the genus Okapia. This word derives from
two Lese words. The first, oka, means to cut. The second, kpi,
refers to the design the Efe people made on arrow shafts. The
second part of the species name, johnstoni, is named
after Harry Johnston, the first person to acquire an okapi for
examination.