Nature: Exotic Creatures 2

– The Okapi –

“The Okapi, a mesmerizing creature native to the Ituri Rainforest of Central Africa, fascinates biologists with its unique characteristics. Resembling a horse, it boasts a velvety, chocolate-to-russet coat, contrasted with striking, zebra-like stripes on its hind legs and tail.

Though seemingly peculiar, this striking pattern serves a crucial role in Okapi ecology. The stripes offer a disruptive visual effect in the dappled light of the forest, providing superb camouflage for this elusive species. The Okapi’s tongue is another marvel of adaptation; at up to 18 inches long, it’s dexterous enough to strip leaves from branches and even groom its own ears.

Okapis are solitary creatures with large individual territories. They communicate primarily through infrasound, sounds that are too low for human ears to perceive. This mysterious animal was unknown to the scientific community until the early 20th century, often referred to as the ‘African unicorn’ due to its elusive nature. Now, they are considered an umbrella species, indicating a wider biodiversity within their habitat, and their conservation is pivotal to maintaining ecological balance in the Ituri rainforest.”

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.

The Okapi is indigenous to the Ituri Rainforest located in ________ 1 Africa.
One notable feature of the Okapi is its distinctive ________ 2-like stripes on its hind legs and tail.
The ________ 3 color pattern on the Okapi offers excellent camouflage in the forest light.
The Okapi possesses an unusually long ________ 4, which can reach up to 18 inches in length.
Okapis predominantly interact through ________ 5, sounds below the human hearing range.
Known as the ‘African unicorn’, the Okapi was only discovered by scientists in the early ________ 6 century.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

The enchanting Okapi, native to Central Africa’s Ituri ________ 1, captivates scientists with its unusual features. With its horse-like structure and contrasting stripes, similar to a ________ 2, on its hind legs and tail, it provides an astonishing sight. Its stripes also provide effective ________ 3 in the dappled forest light. Another remarkable adaptation is the Okapi’s long ________ 4, capable of stripping leaves and grooming its ears. Known for their solitary nature and communication through ________ 5, Okapis were unknown to science until the early 20th ________ 6, earning them the nickname ‘African unicorn’.

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