Final answer:
The okapi's coat is a deep, chocolate to reddish-brown that provides camouflage in forest undergrowth, and it has distinctive zebra-like stripes on its legs and hindquarters. A natural oil secretion gives the coat a waterproof quality essential for its rainforest habitat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The unique characteristics of the okapi's coat and colouration stem from a mix of features that help it blend into its natural surroundings. The okapi has a deep, chocolate to reddish-brown velvety coat, which serves as a great camouflage amidst dense forest undergrowth where it resides. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the okapi is the zebra-like striping on its legs and hindquarters, which are thought to break up the animal's outline in the dappled light of its forest habitat. This striping is especially conspicuous in juveniles and fades as the animal matures. Interestingly, while the okapi's coat may appear oily or shiny, this is due to a natural oil secretion that makes the okapi's coat waterproof, which is essential in the often wet environment of the Congolese rainforest.