What Animals Are in the Same Family As a Giraffe?

Giraffes belong to the family Giraffidae. Only one other species shares this family title: okapis. While giraffes are a well-known animal, often seen at zoos and depicted in children's cartoons, okapis are a far lesser-known animal. In fact, scientists didn't officially confirm their existence until 1901 and mistakenly thought they were a new type of zebra. The two species share characteristics of the Giraffidae family, but they have many qualities that separate them as well.

  1. Giraffes

    • Giraffes are very social animals.

      Giraffes are the tallest animal on the planet, reaching heights between 14 and 19 feet and weighing between 1,750 and 2,800 pounds. Their legs may look gangly but for short periods they can carry a giraffe across open grasslands at speeds of up to 35 miles an hour. They can run 10 miles an hour over longer distances with ease. With their long necks and their 21-inch tongues, they can easily acquire food from tall trees. They also use their impressive height and keen vision to look out over long distances for predators.

    Okapi

    • Although okapis are browsers, they will occasionally graze on grass as well.

      The legs of an okapi have a pattern similar to a zebra's, while their bodies are mostly brown. With the aid of their excellent hearing, okapi are able to avoid predators and elude being seen by humans very often. They are also nocturnal. Because of this, it is unknown how many okapi are in the wild, but their numbers are estimated to be about 25,000. Females travel up to half a mile a day in search of food, whereas males travel up to 2 1/2 miles a day. Okapi mark their territory using scent glands on their feet, leaving behind a sticky, tar-like substance when they walk. Males also urinate to mark territory.

    Common Characteristics

    • Although giraffes and okapi are very different animals, they have like characteristics that group them in the same family. They both have long tongues to help them eat, and narrow, long heads with thin lips. Both species have unique horns: bony cores covered by fur, extending from the tops of their heads. They also have large ears designed to help them hear an approaching predator. Giraffes and okapi both have hooves. They are considered browsers, feeding off leaves, buds and twigs of trees; however, giraffes are exclusively browsers and okapi will graze on grass as well.

    Differences

    • Okapis lack the long, slender legs and necks that giraffes possess. Although both giraffids live in Africa, okapi live deep in the forests of central Africa and giraffes roam large expanses of open savannahs. Okapi also inhabit smaller territories and live solitary lives (with the exception of an okapi female with babies). Giraffes are very social animals -- they live in large herds of up to 25. Both giraffes and okapis have markings on their fur designed to camouflage them in their natural environments, but they are very different patterns.