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What the sources say

OkapiOkapia johnstoni

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Okapi profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 56 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Okapia johnstoni (okapi). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysZebra-striped legs
The source saystheir legs have white stockings with brown stripes, similar to those of a zebra
The page saysa tongue that can reach past a foot
The source saysprehensile tongues, which can reach over 12 inches
The page saysseen eating more than 100 plant species
The source saysThey have been observed eating over 100 different species of plants
The page saysAn okapi's tongue is prehensile, which means it can grip, and it can reach over 12 inches (30 centimeters).
The source saysprehensile tongues, which can reach over 12 inchesNote: 30 centimeters is converted from 12 inches; 'which means it can grip' defines prehensile and claims nothing about the okapi
The page saysOkapis have been seen using it to eat more than 100 different species of plants.
The source saysThey have been observed eating over 100 different species of plants using their prehensile tongues
The page saysThe Giraffe's Closest Living Relative
The source saysBefore discovering that okapis were the closest relative to giraffes
The page saysit can reach over 12 inches (30 centimeters)
The source saysprehensile tongues, which can reach over 12 inchesNote: 30 centimeters, converted from 12 inches
The page sayssome have been seen eating burnt charcoal and licking bat guano (droppings) off hollow trees
The source saysSome okapis have been observed eating burnt charcoal and licking bat guano off of hollow trees.Note: '(droppings)' defines guano
The page saysfemales have swirls of hair in their place
The source saysFemales lack ossicones, having hair whorls in their place.
The page saysOkapis are not known to have any special defenses, but they do kick at predators.
The source saysOkapis are not known to have special anti-predator adaptations, but they kick at predators

Source
02

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Okapi. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysthe giraffe's only close living relative
The source saysOkapis are indeed the only close living relative of giraffes.
The page saysunknown to scientists until 1901
The source saysscientists did not know of okapis until 1901
The page saysTropical rainforest in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
The source saysOkapis live in tropical rainforests in the northeast region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The page saysLeaves, twigs, fruit, and fungi, plus clay
The source sayseating 40 to 65 pounds (18 to 29 kilograms) of leaves, twigs, fruits, and fungi each day ... They also eat clay
The page saysA prehensile tongue
The source saysAn okapi also has a long, dark, prehensile tongue
The page sayslong enough to reach its own eyes and ears
The source saysAn okapi's dark tongue is long enough to reach its eyes and ears.
The page saysa scent gland on each foot that leaves sticky, tar-like marks on its territory
The source saysA scent gland on each foot leaves behind a sticky, tar-like substance wherever they walk, marking their territory.
The page saysThe white-and-black stripes offer great camouflage when an okapi stands in the partial sunlight filtering through the dense rainforest.
The source saysAn okapi's stripes ... offer great camouflage when an okapi stands in the partial sunlight filtering through the dense rainforest.
The page saysThey may also help a calf follow its mother through the dark forest, and may help adult okapis find each other.
The source saysTheir stripes may also help a young okapi follow their mother through the dark forest, and they may help adults find each other, too.
The page saysWith its striking white-and-black striped legs, the okapi (Okapia johnstoni, pronounced oh-KAHP-ee) looks like it could be related to a zebra
The source saysWith striking white-and-black striped legs, an okapi (pronounced oh-KAHP-ee) looks like it could be related to a zebra.
The page saysBut its head resembles a giraffe's, and the okapi is the giraffe's only close living relative.
The source saysBut if you look at an okapi's head, you'll also notice a resemblance to a giraffe. ... Okapis are indeed the only close living relative of giraffes.
The page saysAn adult okapi stands about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.
The source saysHeight: About 5 feet (1.5 metes) tallNote: source prints 'metes', a typo for meters; quoted around it. 'Adult' because the page's SIZE block follows a separate size-at-birth line
The page saysFemales weigh 495 to 770 pounds (225 to 350 kilograms) and males 440 to 660 pounds (200 to 300 kilograms)
The source saysWeight: Females 495 to 770 pounds (225 to 350 kilograms); males 440 to 660 pounds (200 to 300 kilograms)
The page saysokapis live 17 years on average
The source saysLIFE SPAN 17 years on average
The page saysIndigenous people of the Ituri Forest knew of okapis for generations, but scientists did not know of them until 1901
The source sayswhile indigenous people of the Ituri Forest knew of okapis for generations, scientists did not know of okapis until 1901
The page saysThe okapi's long, dark tongue is prehensile, which means it can grip
The source saysAn okapi also has a long, dark, prehensile tongueNote: 'which means it can grip' defines prehensile
The page saysLike a giraffe's tongue, it helps the okapi strip buds and young leaves from the understory brush
The source saysAn okapi also has a long, dark, prehensile tongue, like a giraffe's, to help it strip the buds and young leaves from the understory brush of its rainforest home.Note: the following 'the shrubs and small plants growing beneath the rainforest trees' defines understory
The page saysEach day okapis eat 40 to 65 pounds (18 to 29 kilograms) of leaves, twigs, fruit, and fungi
The source sayseating 40 to 65 pounds (18 to 29 kilograms) of leaves, twigs, fruits, and fungi each day
The page saysThey also eat clay, likely for the minerals it contains
The source saysThey also eat clay, likely for the minerals it contains.
The page saysA Tongue Built for the Understory
The source saysAn okapi also has a long, dark, prehensile tongue, like a giraffe's, to help it strip the buds and young leaves from the understory brush of its rainforest home.
The page saysStriped Legs, Velvet Coat
The source saysWith striking white-and-black striped legs ... An okapi's dark brown or reddish-brown coat is dense and feels like velvet.
The page saysAn okapi's dark brown or reddish-brown coat is dense and feels like velvet.
The source saysAn okapi's dark brown or reddish-brown coat is dense and feels like velvet.
The page saysIt is also oily, so water slides right off, keeping the okapi dry on rainy days.
The source saysIt's also oily, so water slides right off, keeping okapis dry on rainy days.
The page saysThe stripes on its legs make great camouflage when it stands in the partial sunlight filtering through the dense rainforest
The source saysWith striking white-and-black striped legs ... An okapi's stripes ... offer great camouflage when an okapi stands in the partial sunlight filtering through the dense rainforest.
The page saysMales have two bony bumps called ossicones near their ears, like giraffes do
The source saysMales have two bony protrusions, called ossicones, near their ears, like giraffes do.
The page saysA scent gland on each foot leaves a sticky, tar-like substance wherever an okapi walks, marking its territory.
The source saysA scent gland on each foot leaves behind a sticky, tar-like substance wherever they walk, marking their territory.
The page saysAn okapi can tell if another okapi has been there by sniffing out these marks.
The source saysBecause they have a great sense of smell, an okapi can tell if another okapi has been there by sniffing out these scent marks left on the ground.
The page saysA Ghost With a Secret Language
The source saysIt can prove incredibly difficult to find them in dense rainforests, though. ... San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservation scientists discovered that okapis have a secret language.Note: 'ghost' is a figure for how hard okapis are to find, which the first sentence states; 'secret language' is SDZWA's own phrase
The page saysOkapis live alone, except for mothers caring for calves.
The source saysOkapis are naturally solitary except for adult females caring for calves.
The page saysTheir huge ears pick up even the softest sounds
The source saysTheir huge ears pick up even the softest sounds coming from any direction.
The page sayseach ear can rotate on its own, so an okapi can listen both in front and behind
The source saysAn okapi's ears can rotate independently, so they can listen for sounds both in front and behind.
The page saysThey listen for leopards, which hunt adult okapis, and for smaller wild cats, which can attack a young calf.
The source saysThey listen for leopards, which hunt adult okapis, as well as smaller wild cats, which can attack a young calf.
The page saysScientists recording okapis often heard coughs, bleats, and whistles, but when they studied the recordings closely they found other calls pitched so low that humans cannot hear them at all.
The source saysSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservation scientists discovered that okapis have a secret language. They watched okapis closely and recorded their sounds. They heard coughs, bleats, and whistles quite often, but it wasn't until they returned to the Sensory Ecology Lab to examine their recordings closely that they realized okapis also use other calls with very low frequencies. These calls are so low, in fact, that we cannot hear them at all!
The page saysOne explanation is that these calls let a mother out foraging check in with her calf without alerting potential predators, which cannot hear sounds that low either.
The source saysOne explanation is that these calls have evolved for communication between a mother and her baby while she's out foraging. In this situation, a mother can "check in" with her offspring without alerting potential predators to the fact that her baby is vulnerable. Predators remain unaware of these chats, as, like us, they cannot hear sounds so low in pitch.
The page saysOkapis live in tropical rainforest in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The source saysOkapis live in tropical rainforests in the northeast region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The page saysPoaching, habitat loss, and the changing politics of Central Africa have led to a severe decline
The source saysThe changing politics of Central Africa, poaching, and habitat loss have led to severe population decline.
The page saysscientists estimate that numbers have fallen by more than half over three generations
The source saysScientists estimate the rate of decline has exceeded 50% over three generations
The page sayscalls run from coughs, bleats and whistles down to infrasonic calls too low for human ears
The source saysThey heard coughs, bleats, and whistles ... okapis also use other calls with very low frequencies. These calls are so low, in fact, that we cannot hear them at all! ... these infrasonic mutterings become visibleNote: vibe.reason

Source
03

Mallon et al. 2015

Mallon et al. (2015). Okapia johnstoni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T15188A51140517.

The page saysEndangered
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Endangered (EN).
The page saysThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the okapi as Endangered.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Endangered (EN).

Source
04

Danowitz & Solounias 2015

Danowitz & Solounias (2015). The Cervical Osteology of Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis. PLOS ONE.

The page saysThe okapi belongs to Giraffidae, the giraffe family.
The source saysGiraffidae is the only family of ruminants that is represented by two extant species; Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis
The page saysThe family once held around 25 members; today the giraffe and the okapi are the only ones still alive.
The source saysThe giraffe and the okapi are the only extant members of a previously species-rich family with approximately 25 members
The page saysThe two are the last survivors of Giraffidae, the giraffe family, which once held around 25 members.
The source saysGiraffidae is the only family of ruminants that is represented by two extant species; Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis ... The giraffe and the okapi are the only extant members of a previously species-rich family with approximately 25 members

Source
05

Agaba et al. 2016

Agaba et al. (2016). Giraffe genome sequence reveals clues to its unique morphology and physiology. Nature Communications.

The page saysA 2016 study comparing their genes estimated that giraffes and okapis split from a common ancestor about 11.5 million years ago.
The source sayswe analysed the coding sequences of orthologous genes in giraffe, okapi and cattle ... The divergence of giraffe and okapi, based on the relative rates of synonymous substitutions, from a common ancestor is estimated to be 11.5 myaNote: 2016 is the reference's own publication year

Source
06

Stanton et al. 2014

Stanton et al. (2014). Non-invasive genetic identification confirms the presence of the Endangered okapi Okapia johnstoni south-west of the Congo River. Oryx.

The page saysscattered spots south-west of the Congo River
The source saysOkapi were confirmed to occur south-west of the Congo River, in scattered localities west of the Lomami River
The page saysa 2014 study using DNA from their dung confirmed them in scattered spots south-west of the Congo River
The source saysHere we describe the use of non-invasive genetic identification for this species and assess the success of species identification from dung in the wild ... Okapi were confirmed to occur south-west of the Congo River, in scattered localities west of the Lomami River.Note: 2014 is the reference's own publication year, not a word in the quoted sentences

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.