Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Unusual Animals: Kiwi and Okapi

One look at the rounded brownish body of the flightless Kiwi bird will tell you where the kiwi fruit got its name. The kiwi bird itself was named for its memorable call. A kiwi weighs from three to nine pounds, depending on the species, and has a long beak with nostrils. It is endemic to New Zealand, and the country uses the bird as its national symbol. Unfortunately, all species of Kiwis are endangered.


The Okapi looks like it might be part zebra and part giraffe. In fact, it is related to the giraffe, but it stands just five feet high at the shoulder and has a much shorter neck. It has a red-brown body and dazzling white stripes on its legs and bottom. The Okapi is native to the Ituri Rainforest in central Africa.

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