The neat thing about the okapi is that it was thought to be mythical. It was not officially discovered until 1902 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That just goes to show you that scientists have not yet discovered everything there is to know, and that new species are still being discovered. Maybe the Loch Ness monster and a giant plesiosaur will turn up next?
The okapi is actually a member of the giraffe family, and it has a long tongue and seven neck vertebrae just like giraffes do. Much to the delight of my husband and biology-major son, the okapi is also the mascot of the International Society of Cryptozoology.
cryptozoology |ˌkriptəzōˈäləjē, -zo͞o-| nounthe search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti.
cryptozoology |ˌkriptəzōˈäləjē, -zo͞o-| nounthe search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti.